Patients taking the cholesterol-busting drugs statins could be at a
much higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease, a scientist
claims.
Up to four million Britons are thought to be taking statins
regularly because they are at risk of a heart attack or stroke,
saving at least 7,000 lives a year.

The drugs are designed to reduce levels of low- density lipoproteins
(LDLs), which carry cholesterol from the liver to cells in the body.

This "bad" LDL cholesterol can fur up the arteries and lead to heart
disease.

A study in the United States has found that patients with low levels
of LDL cholesterol are three times more likely to have Parkinson's
disease.

The researchers are planning largescale trials to determine whether
the drugs are the cause.

Last night experts sought to reassure patients that statins were
safe and should not be stopped.

The findings come from a study published today in Chemistry and
Industry, the magazine of the Society of Chemical Industry.

Dr Xuemei Huang, of the University of North Carolina, compared the
incidence of Parkinson's in 236 patients with different levels of
LDL cholesterol. Those with the lowest levels were three and a half
times more likely to have the disease than patients with higher
levels.

She said: "I'm definitely concerned which is why I'm conducting a
prospective study of 16,000 people."

But she stressed she was not suggesting patients change their diets
or stop taking statins.

She said the health benefits of statins for people with high levels
of LDL cholesterol - and at high risk of heart problems - far
exceeded any possible additional risk of Parkinson's.

British experts claimed it was unlikely that statins caused
Parkinson's - and said they were more likely to protect against it.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart
Foundation, urged patients not to stop taking statins.

He said: "We are concerned that any suggestion of a link between
statins and Parkinson's disease would unnecessarily scare the
millions of people benefiting from statins in the UK. There is no
evidence to suggest that statins cause Parkinson's disease.

"On the other hand, there is overwhelming evidence that statins save
lives by preventing heart attacks and strokes."

He added: "This report on a small number of patients with
Parkinson's disease does no more than suggest there might be a
statistical association between low levels of LDL cholesterol and
Parkinson's disease.

"This is not the same as saying low LDL cholesterol levels cause
Parkinson's disease, and it is an even bigger leap to suggest that
statins have any role in this possible link.

"Nobody should stop taking statins on the basis of this report. If
they do, they will be putting themselves at increased risk of heart
attack or stroke."

Dr Kieran Breen, director of research and development for the
Parkinson's Disease Society, said: "A study comparing such small
numbers of people with Parkinson's and those without cannot
establish low LDL cholesterol as a cause of Parkinson's.

"Rather, simply that there may be some link between the two. We
should be wary of drawing any firm conclusions from this research.

"Further research into any link between low LDL cholesterol and
cholesterol-lowering drugs with Parkinson's is needed.

"We hope that the proposed study will shed further light on this,
and help to increase our understanding of Parkinson's."

JENNY HOPE
1/18/07(Daily Mail) -