Inclusion Criteria:

1. a diagnosis of NF1 by NIH criteria

2. between 10 and 50 years of age

3. no evidence of a comorbid neurological disorder (e.g., epilepsy, encephalitis)

4. not currently taking a statin medication

5. not suffering from hypercholesterolemia based on self-report, collateral information
from physician, or initial medical workup using National Cholesterol Education
Program (NCEP, JAMA 2001), guidelines accepted by the American College of Cardiology
(ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA)

6. does not have any of the aforementioned conditions that contraindicates use of statin
medications (such as pregnancy, lactation, liver disease, or use of other medication
not recommended for use in conjunction with lovastatin). A negative pregnancy test
will be required if the patient is a female in reproductive years.

7. not mentally retardation (i.e., IQ greater than 70)

8. no evidence of significant and habitual alcohol or drug abuse or dependence

9. sufficient acculturation and fluency in the English language to avoid invalidating
research measures of thought, language, and speech disorder, and verbal abilities.

10. lives in Southern California area (or can arrange ~5 visits to Los Angeles over 14
weeks)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. comorbid neurological conditions

2. significant drug or alcohol abuse

3. non-fluency in English