Parkinson’s Disease :: Less risk of Parkinson’s disease with increased cholesterol

Women with higher levels of total cholesterol appear to be at decreased risk for developing Parkinson’s disease, according to a report by researchers in the Netherlands. The study is published in American Journal of Epidemiology, November 2006 issue.

Exactly why this association is not seen in men is unclear, but it may relate to a stronger association in women between levels of cholesterol and coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant that has shown promise against Parkinson’s disease in animal studies and clinical trials.

The findings are based on an analysis of data from the Rotterdam Study, including 2654 men and 3811 women at least 55 years of age. The average follow-up period was 9.4 years.

Dr. Monique M. B. Breteler, from Erasmus Medical Center and colleagues found that the risk of Parkinson’s disease fell by 23 percent for each mmol/L increase in the total cholesterol.

Leave a Comment

Spirit India