A low cholesterol level may increase the risk of Parkinson's disease, at least for men.

Lower Cholesterol Levels Means Higher Risk of Parkinson's

Several years' worth of studies have revealed possible associations between low cholesterol and impaired mental function. Now scientists from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have discovered Parkinson's is one of the potential risks.

A study measured the lipid levels of over 100 Parkinson's patients with a similar group of people who were free of the disease. After adjusting for factors such as age, smoking, and use of lipid-lowering agents, men with low total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels had an increased risk of Parkinson's.  This did not, however, also prove to be the case for women.

Six Times the Chances

Men with LDL cholesterol levels between 91 and 135 had 6 times the likelihood of having Parkinson's of those with LDL levels above 135, and those with LDL levels below 91 had 4 times the likelihood.

One possibility is that cholesterol may help rid the body of environmental toxins that could trigger Parkinson's. Another is that cholesterol could be a precursor for hormones involved in nervous system function.

Not True for Women

It is unknown why the same association does not hold true for women. It may be connected with that fact that LDL cholesterol levels increase with age in men until they are 65 years old, but in women until they are 75. The lifetime risk of Parkinson's disease is about twice as high for men as it is for women.