Serum Cholesterol and Parkinson's Disease Progression
Author Information
Author(s): Huang Xuemei, Auinger Peggy, Eberly Shirley, Oakes David, Schwarzschild Michael, Ascherio Alberto, Mailman Richard, Chen Honglei
Primary Institution: Pennsylvania State University-Milton Hershey Medical Center
Hypothesis
Higher serum cholesterol correlates with slower PD progression.
Conclusion
Higher total serum cholesterol concentrations may be associated with a modest slower clinical progression of Parkinson's disease.
Supporting Evidence
- The study involved 774 participants with early Parkinson's disease.
- Participants were followed for up to two years to assess progression.
- Only nine subjects reported using cholesterol-lowering agents.
- The overall mean cholesterol level was 216 mg/dL.
- Higher cholesterol levels were associated with lower risk of reaching the primary endpoint.
Takeaway
This study looked at whether having higher cholesterol levels could help people with Parkinson's disease get worse more slowly. It found that higher cholesterol might help a little.
Methodology
The study measured baseline serum cholesterol in 774 early PD subjects and followed them for up to two years to assess clinical disability requiring levodopa therapy.
Potential Biases
Potential confounding factors include the low percentage of participants using cholesterol-lowering medications.
Limitations
Cholesterol was not measured in fasting conditions, and the sample size may limit the findings.
Participant Demographics
Participants were early PD subjects without severe postural instability, mostly aged around 62 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.09
Confidence Interval
0.80–1.01
Statistical Significance
p=0.09
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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