title: The potential behavioral and economic impacts of widespread HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) use.
abstract: Dyslipidemia is a common pathology throughout the industrialized world, and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are often administered to treat elevated lipid levels. Substantial concern has been raised regarding the aggressive clinical lowering of cholesterol, particularly in light of a growing body of research linking low circulating lipid levels with negative behavioral outcomes in both human samples and non-human primate models. In 2009, Goldstein and colleagues tentatively speculated that the greed, impulsiveness, and lack of foresight that lead to the worldwide economic collapse in 2007-2008 could have been caused (in part) by depressed population cholesterol levels resulting from the widespread use of statins by workers in the financial services industry. This paper reviews the literature that links low circulating lipid levels with neurobehavioral dysfunction, develops Goldstein and colleagues' initial speculation into a formal hypothesis, and proposes several specific studies that could rigorously empirically evaluate this hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Elon University, Elon, NC, USA. Electronic address: mgendle@elon.edu.
authors.forename: Mathew H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Gendle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001519:Behavior; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D003132:Commerce; D003657:Decision Making; D004032:Diet; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol