Parkinson's disease may be linked to lower levels of LDL cholesterol or to the statin drugs that work to reduce it, according to results of a small study.

The researchers found that patients with low levels of LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol are at least three and a half times more likely to develop Parkinson's than those with higher levels of the so-called bad cholesterol.

Their findings are published in the journal Chemistry & Industry.

Some experts have reacted with skepticism to the findings, claiming the study was too small to provide credible results. Only 124 Parkinson's patients and 112 controls participated.

However, the researchers involved in the latest study are now planning to launch a more ambitious effort, involving approximately 16,000 patients, to test the results.

Parkinson's disease is one of several motor system disorders that can result from the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Its primary symptoms are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination.

As the symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. There is presently no known cure for the disease, which affects an estimated 500,000 people in the US, with about 50,000 new cases reported annually.