An experimental medicine study of the effects of simvastatin on emotional processing, reward learning, verbal memory, and inflammation in healthy volunteers.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Clinical studies suggest that the highly lipophilic, anti-inflammatory molecule, simvastatin, might be an ideal candidate for drug repurposing in the treatment of depression. The neuropsychological effects of simvastatin are not known, but their ascertainment would have significant translational value about simvastatin's influence on mood and cognition.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the effects of simvastatin on a battery of psychological tests and inflammatory markers in healthy volunteers.

Methods

Fifty-three healthy subjects were randomly assigned to 7 days of either simvastatin (N = 27) or sucrose-based placebo (N = 26) given in a double-blind fashion. Then, participants were administered questionnaires measuring subjective rates of mood and anxiety

SUBMITTER: De Giorgi R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9069418 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature