Healthy living
Medicines and supplements
Do statins raise the risk of Parkinson's?
Despite the link found in a US study, the drugs' benefits outweigh any possible risks, say experts
Results from a small study linking low cholesterol with increased risk of Parkinson's disease need further investigation, say doctors. They recommend that, meanwhile, people taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs should continue with their medication because current evidence suggests that the benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Nearly four million people in the UK regularly take statins, which protect against heart attacks and strokes by reducing levels of 'bad' LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) in the body. These drugs save at least 7000 lives each year.
The US study, which involved 236 volunteers, found that patients with low levels of LDL cholesterol were three and a half times more likely to have Parkinson's disease than people with higher levels. Further tests are planned to determine whether there is a conclusive link between taking statin drugs and Parkinson's.
Dr Xuemei Huang, of the University of North Carolina, who conducted the small-scale study published in the journal Chemistry and Industry, said: "I'm definitely concerned which is why I'm conducting a prospective study of 16,000 people."
However she was anxious to point out that the health benefits of statins for people with high levels of LDL cholesterol far exceeded any possible additional risk of Parkinson's.
Medical director of the British Heart Foundation, Professor Peter Weissberg, stressed that patients using statins should not stop taking their medication: "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."
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."
What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is disorder of part of the brain, which alters the way the brain co-ordinates the movements of the muscles in various parts of the body. It mainly affects people over the age of 50. About five in 1000 people in their 60s, and about 20 in 1000 people in their 80s, suffer from the condition.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of Parkinson's disease are stiffness, and slowness of movement. Other symptoms include disturbed sleep, depression, and constipation. Symptoms typically worsen over time.
Treatment
At present there is no cure for Parkinson's, but drug treatment can usually ease symptoms.
Talk about statins on Saga Zone
If you would like to discuss statins, please visit Saga Zone's Health Forum
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
