Parkinston'd?
Posted on 01/19/2007 11:08:25 AM PST by blam
Source: Society of Chemical Industry
Date: January 18, 2007
New Study To Test Statin-Parkinson's Link
Science Daily — Researchers are sufficiently worried by new study results that they are planning clinical trials involving thousands of people to examine the possible link between Parkinson's disease and statins, the world biggest selling drugs, reports Patrick Walter in Chemistry & Industry, the magazine of the SCI.
Suggestions of a statin link are not new, but the results of a recent study linking low LDL cholesterol to Parkinson's provide the strongest evidence to date that it could be real, because statins work by reducing LDL cholesterol. The study by researchers at University of North Carolina showed that patients with low levels of LDL cholesterol are more than three and a half times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those with higher LDL levels.
When asked whether she was concerned by the new results, study leader Xuemei Huang said: 'Yes I am very concerned, which is why I am planning a 16000-patient prospective study to examine the possible role of statins.' Huang was quick to point out, however, that a causal link with statins had not yet been proven. And Yoav Ben-Shlomo, a professor of clinical epidemiology at University of Bristol said that it is also a possibility that LDL cholesterol is a consequence rather than a cause of Parkinson's.
But according to Huang, the well-established link between Parkinson's and apoE2, a gene associated with lower LDL cholesterol, supports her theory that low LDL is the culprit in many cases of Parkinson's.
Huang says that if there is a link with statins, we could see big surges in the number of Parkinson's diagnoses in the next five years, because at that stage, statins will have been in common usage for more than a decade.
Huang's new study will examine the statin link. A total of 16000 patients for whom 20 years of baseline fasting cholesterol measurements are available will be involved. Another large-scale trial investigating a cholesterol link with Parkinson's risk is underway at Harvard. This study differs in that there are no baseline data available for the study group.
Pfizer's statin Lipitor is the world's biggest selling drug with $12.2bn in sales in 2005. Parkinson's has previously been linked with pesticides. Pfizer were unavailable for comment.
If a drug sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Parkinston'd?
This doesn't mean I'm gonna look like Janet Reno one of these days does it???
ping for reading later
Another HUGE warning to all taking Statin drugs is that while they block the production of cholesteral they also block the production of CoQ-10 one of the most esential elements to a healthy heart. COQ-10 deficiency can certainly lead to heart failure, especially in the elderly. I'm no doctor but I would say anyone taking a Statin drug should be taking some coQ-10 supplementation.
I nearly posted the same message. It may be protective, and would not be harmful.
Thanks for posting. Interesting.
Granted, the alternative is a lot more work and requires effort.
Quick, painless fixes. That's the ticket!
And Lipitor does retard cholesterol, but cholesterol is needed by the body for cell production and maintenance. The thing is: cholesterol cannot pass the blood brain barrier and therefore, the brain manufactures it's own supply of cholesterol.
Lipitor however, can cross the blood brain barrier, and interfere with the brains own supply. There is lots and lots of reports out there of mild to severe memory loss, and other cognitive problems associated with its use. So seeing something about a link with Parkinson's doesn't surprise me. And in fact might explain the increase in tremors my father has. He is no longer on statins but I fear the damage has been done.
Thanks. Saving for later.
I took lipitor for several weeks two years ago. I got a horrible bruise for no reason and got edema in my face. Decided it wasn't worth it. I told my doctor this summer never again, so he put me on fish oil. That I can do.
I sent this link to my dad and sister. My father has parkinson's, however, I don't know the timing of when he started on statins and when he was diagnosed but I'm going to darn sure ask. I told them both to get off the statins ASAP (not that they will--both think all dr's walk on water).
Taking statins, in my eyes, is like putting tape over your oil light in your car instead of changing the oil. It just masks the problem.
God made our bodies incredibly brilliant and capable of healing themselves if given the right tools but modern medicine really likes to usurp that and convince us we're totally flawed w/out meds.
Glad this came out.
I found that I cannot use any statins that are produced through the use of aspergillus-fumigatus. On the other hand, there are statins that are completely synthetic and they don't cause the problem, at least in me.
Just got my first results back on Zocor:
LDL down to 111 from 172. (Good is <130.)
What are you really going to die of (statistically speaking)? Heart attack or stroke. Zocor works for me!
help me out here...what exactly are statins? are they in certain foods? I'm asking because my husband (who is only 46) has all the symptoms of poly myalgia rheumatica and I wonder if its from a food or something.
Your screen name reminded of a link they might be interested in then.
That is, if they'd take the word of a doctor who is also a former USAF Flight Surgeon, NASA Astronaut and scientist.
Dr. Duane Graveline the Space Doc has his very own personal story to tell on statins in general and Lipitor in particular.
BTW: My dad had been on statin's for a while, but after doing a lot of reading and seeing his day to day conditions for a while, took him off them. He's been on vitamin B, C (2 + grams a day), fish oil (1 gram) and 400mg of Co-Q10 as supplements. After his last blood work, the doctor remarked that his cholesterol levels were perfect (his words not mine), and his kidney doc is reporting a continuing downward trend in his creatine levels.
It should also be noted that with the exception of taking dad off the statins, the doc did prescribe the supplements. And as a disclaimer, run these issues by your own doctor, most reasonable doc's are willing to listen and consider, especially if you've done your own research. If not you might want to consider a second opinion if only for your own peace of mind and edification.
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