In a surprise finding, this NYT article reports that a new study may have found a link between low levels of LDL cholesterol and Parkinson’s disease.  LDL is so the so called “bad” cholesterol and a low reading is normally considered a benefit that leads to a lower risk of heart disease.  So it’s somewhat counter intuitive that this study would indicate a link between low LDL and Parkinson’s. 

 

The study indicted that those in the lowest 25 percentile of LDL had a two to three and a half times greater risk factor for Parkinson’s.

 

According to the article the study could not find a causative relationship between lowered levels of LDL and Parkinson’s.

 

Doctors quoted in the article urged patients not to adjust their diets in light of this new information.

 

This seems to be on of those counter intuitive studies results that needs a lot more study before someone can truly evaluate what it might mean for our national health, if it means anything at all.