Patient description: The patient is a 14-year-old boy complaining of scoliosis and back pain. He has no other medical condition. He used to be able to play routine activities such as basketball and soccer, however, he recently has problem doing them. The pain is in his leg and back and aggravated by physical activities. He prefer lying down most of the time. He is not happy with his body gesture and complaints of shoulder imbalance and shifting his head to right. Patient is a well-dressed and well-nourished adolescent who is alert and cooperative. The left shoulder is slightly higher than the right shoulder. The scoliotic curve is measured as 45 degree. The patients is candidate for scoliosis surgery according to perioperative MEP monitoring

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 8.0-20.0,  Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Learning Disability Reading Disability NF1 This study will be open to all English speakers who meet regardless of race, gender, minority or socioeconomic status. to be met are listed below: 1. Individuals ages 8-20 (all participants) 2. Documented NF-1 (NF patients only) 3. If female, participant is post-menarche (NF patients only) 4. If male, participant has reached Tanner Stage 2 (NF patients only) 5. Participant able to swallow capsule (NF patients only, may be confirmed via swallowability test, described below) 6. Participant's English is sufficient for school (all participants) 7. Participant must either answer "yes" to question A, or answer "yes" to at least 2 items for questions B-D listed below: A. Has your child ever been diagnosed with a reading disability? B. Did your child have trouble learning how to "sound out" words? C. Have you (parent) ever been concerned about your child's reading ability? D. Did the school or teacher ever express any concerns about your child's reading ability? Swallowability Assessment: We may ask patients to perform a capsule swallowability assessment prior to enrollment. We will ask subjects to attempt to swallow an empty capsule, matching the same size of the Lovastatin 20mg and 40mg capsules to be used in the study, to confirm swallowability. Patients will be provided with up to 2 capsules as needed to successfully perform the swallowability assessment. If the patient is unable to swallow the capsule, enrollment in the study may deferred or declined. A child will be excluded if he/she meets any of the following which will be determined by initial telephone screening as well as review of medical/developmental history prior to and during testing: 1. Child 7 years of age or less; 2. known uncorrectable visual impairment; 3. documented hearing impairment greater than or equal to a 25 dB loss; 4. medical contraindication to MRI procedures (e.g., metal devices); 5. any psychiatric, behavioral, or developmental disorder that would preclude active participation in in-depth tutoring sessions 6. Pregnant at time of screening. 7. Known conditions which are contraindicated to Lovastatin 1. Hypersensitivity to the medication 2. Uncontrolled Epilepsy 3. Metabolic Syndrome X, High Blood Sugar, 4. Muscle Damage Due to Autoimmunity 5. Stroke caused by Bleeding in the Brain, Loss of Memory, 6. Severely Low Blood Pressure 7. Liver Problems including Abnormal Liver Function Tests 8. Severe Renal Impairment, 9. Serious Muscle Damage that may Lead to Kidney Failure, 10. Recent Operation or significant Injury 11. Muscle Pain or Tenderness with Increase Creatinine Kinase, 12. Habit of Drinking Too Much Alcohol 13. Pregnant or lactating Lovastatin is contraindicated during pregnancy and in nursing mothers because it decreases synthesis of cholesterol and other products of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway that are essential components for fetal development. Children who meet for ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, adjustment disorder, and/or mild depression will be eligible as long as they are not taking psychotropic medications, with the exception of stimulant medication for ADHD. For pilot participants only: for inclusion/exclusion for pilot participants is outlined below. Children who meet for ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, adjustment disorder, and/or mild depression will be eligible as long as they are not taking psychotropic medications, with the exception of stimulant medication for ADHD. 1. Children ages 8-17 2. Participant is a native English speaker 3. Participant must either answer "yes" to question A, or answer "yes" to at least 2 items for questions 2-4 listed below: A. Has your child ever been diagnosed with a reading disability? B. Did your child have trouble learning how to "sound out" words? C. Have you (parent) ever been concerned about your child's reading ability? D. Did the school or teacher ever express any concerns about your child's reading ability? A child will be excluded if he/she meets any of the following which will be determined by initial telephone screening as well as review of medical/developmental history prior to and during testing: 1. Children 7 years of age or younger 2. previous diagnosis of Intellectual Disability; 3. known uncorrectable visual impairment; 4. documented hearing impairment greater than or equal to a 25 dB loss; 5. medical contraindication to MRI procedures (e.g., metal devices); 6. known IQ below 70; 7. a pervasive developmental disorder; and 8. any known neurologic pathology, including epilepsy, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, optic gliomas, and brain tumors (other than UBOs). 9. Comorbid severe psychiatric disorders will also be excluded