"People taking popular cholesterollowering drugs called statins may have a slightly lower risk than others of developing Parkinsons disease new research suggests.  This effect may be even more pronounced among people younger than  according to the study published in the March issue of Archives of Neurology. However the risk reduction was modest and may have been due to chance the authors said noting that more research is warranted especially because statins can cause adverse side effects. There is no clear verdict said Dr. Stuart Isaacson director of the Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorders Center of Boca Raton who was not involved in the study. Right now we dont have any good evidence that there is anything we can do to reduce the risk of developing Parkinsons disease but research is ongoing added Isaacson also an associate professor of neurology at Florida International Universitys Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Miami. For the study researchers led by Dr. Xiang Gao of Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard University School of Public Health in Boston analyzed data on more than  men and almost  women enrolled in the Health Professionals Followup Study and the Nurses Health Study in .  During  years of followup  people were diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. People taking cholesterollowering drugs especially those younger than  were less likely to develop the neurological disorder than those not using cholesterol drugs the researchers found. Nearly one million people in the United States have Parkinsons disease a chronic and progressive movement disorder and no one knows what causes it. The researchers cant say exactly how  or even if  statins reduce the risk of Parkinsons. Its thought these drugs may have potent antiinflammatory effects which could protect the brain.  The study had some limitations the authors acknowledged. For example only about  percent of people who were taking drugs to lower cholesterol were actually on statins at the studys start.  Dr. Roy Alcalay an assistant professor of neurology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City said it is way too early to say that statins lower risk for Parkinsons disease. This is a promising avenue for future research said Alcalay an advisor for the Parkinsons Disease Foundation. But there is some good news he added. The data are compelling evidence that statins are not detrimental for people with or at risk of Parkinsons disease he said. There was a concern that statins could be harmful as they might lower the level of coenzyme Q in the blood. CoQ an antioxidant is thought to have benefits for people with Parkinsons disease. If you need to be on statins for your heart it is not going to increase your risk for Parkinsons Alcalay said.  More information Learn more about Parkinsons disease and its symptoms at the Parkinsons Disease Foundation http_pd. SOURCES Stuart Isaacson M.D. director Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorders Center of Boca Raton and associate professor neurology Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Miami Fla. Roy Alcalay M.D. assistant professor neurology Columbia University Medical Center New York City and advisor Parkinsons Disease Foundation March  Archives of Neurology"