HEALTH NEWS

Low LDL Cholesterol Associated with Parkinson's Risk

By Byron J. Richards, Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist

April 14, 2008

It is a rather sad commentary on the American Heart Association's and Big Pharma's aggressive marketing of statin drugs that their abnormally low proposed levels of LDL cholesterol for heart health (<90) are the very same levels associated with a new study's findings for a significantly increased risk for Parkinson's disease1.

This is not terribly hard to figure out, since brain cells require cholesterol for longevity. By age 70 the risk for Parkinson's really increases, meaning the older a person gets who has too low of cholesterol the more likely they are to have serious nerve problems. Of course, loss of memory, nerve transmission problems, depression, and even suicide are linked to statin use – problems that all get worse the longer statins are used.

Just as too much cholesterol is not good for overall health, neither is too little. Cholesterol problems are best managed by getting cholesterol into a healthy range by being fit and eating well, and using dietary supplements as appropriate to maintain good health. There is a huge difference between having cholesterol in a healthy range because you are healthy and having cholesterol levels drugged into a range. It is now clear that levels that are too low over time increase the risk for serious nerve-related problems during aging.

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