'Link' Between Statins and Parkinson's Probed


Posted on: Monday, 15 January 2007, 12:00 CST

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/...ource=r_health



EXPERTS sought to reassure patients after scientists announced they
were planning an in-depth study on the link between statins and
Parkinson's disease. The cholesterol-lowering drugs are taken by an
estimated three million Britons and are renowned for preventing heart
attacks and strokes. But now scientists are planning a detailed study
after research showed a link to Parkinson's disease, which affects
about 120,000 people in the UK. Charities urged people to continue
taking their statins, saying the drugs saved lives. According to a
report in the magazine Chemistry & Industry, researchers in the United
States are planning a largescale clinical trial on the link. It comes
after experts, led by Xuemei Huang from the University of North
Carolina, said they had found the strongest link yet between
low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and Parkinson's. High
levels of LDL cholesterol are linked to heart disease. Statins are
known to reduce these LDL levels. The study of 124 patients revealed
that those with low levels of LDL cholesterol were about three times as


likely to develop Parkinson's disease as those with higher levels.
Study leader Dr Xuemei Huang told the magazine she was worried by the
results. "Yes I am very concerned, which is why I am planning a
16,000-patient prospective study to examine the possible role of
statins, " she said.She said there could be big surges in the number of


She said there could be big surges in the number of
Parkinson's cases in the next five years if a link is confirmed.British


experts sought to calm fears, saying there was little or no evidence of


a link.Dr David Dexter, senior lecturer in neuropharmacology at
Imperial College, London, said: "With the evidence we have at the
moment, I would say there is not much cause for concern that statin use


may cause Parkinson's disease. "The study by Huang and colleagues
indicating an association between lower LDL levels and Parkinson's
disease goes against current scientific beliefs."