Comments on: Parkinson and statins

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:12:14 +0000

Thanks for the links Joseph. Of course, I am aware of ongoing debates about the risk-benefit equation. I just happen not to have covered it in detail here. It would be interesting to read a refutation of Kauffman’s claims, I am sure at least one reader will have one!

By: Joseph

Joseph — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:49:55 +0000

Parkinson's is just the tip of the iceberg. Even a cursory search reveal far more critical information. Surprised how unfamiliar a science writer might be with such profoundly troubling issues, especially considering statin's standing as the most prescribed drug in the history of medicine. Statin Drugs - A Critical Review of the Risk/Benefit Clinical Research Joel M. Kauffman, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry Emeritus Here are Joel M. Kauffman's credentials, research interests, and list of scientific publications. Anyone care to refute his opinion in an informed manner based in fundamental biochemistry (some of which anon has already addressed?) The Synthesis of Cholesterol

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:24:52 +0000

madleyn levy, fair enough he was a NASA surgeon and has apparently suffered from his own use of prescribed statins. That still doesn’t stop his site “looking” like nothing much more than an advertisement for his book, regardless of his qualifications or experience. I will, however, obtain a copy and may discuss the issues he raises here at a later date.

Incidentally, why post as “anonymous” and then leave an email address that is all over the web showing your real name?

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:44:08 +0000

It helps to read a site prior to criticizing the author. duane graveline is an MD as well as a NASA trained astronaut. He practiced family medicine as well as space related medicine. and your qualifications????

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:48:03 +0000

Interesting find “anonymous”, I looked up the reference from Drug Safety you cite and quote from the authors’ conclusion, which you did not include in your comment:

“CONCLUSION: We emphasise the rarity of this possible association, and also the need for further study to establish whether a causal relationship exists.”

The authors add that, “We do advocate that trial discontinuation of a statin should be considered in patients with serious neuromuscular disease such as the ALS-like syndrome, given the poor prognosis and a possibility that progression of the disease may be halted or even reversed.”

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:15:23 +0000

recent article:
Drug Saf. 2007;30(6):515-25.

Statins, neuromuscular degenerative disease and an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-like syndrome: an analysis of individual case safety reports from vigibase.Edwards IR, Star K, Kiuru A.
The WHO Foundation Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring, the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC), Uppsala, Sweden.

BACKGROUND: The WHO Foundation Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring (Uppsala Monitoring Centre [UMC]) has received many individual case safety reports (ICSRs) associating HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor drug (statin) use with the occurrence of muscle damage, including rhabdomyolysis, and also peripheral neuropathy. A new signal has now appeared of disproportionally high reporting of upper motor neurone lesions.

AIM AND SCOPE: The aim of this paper is to present the upper motor neurone lesion cases, with other evidence, as a signal of a relationship between statins and an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-like syndrome. The paper also presents some arguments for considering that a spectrum of severe neuromuscular damage may be associated with statin use, albeit rarely. The paper does not do more than raise the signal for further work and analysis of what must be regarded as a potentially very serious and perhaps avoidable or reversible adverse reaction, though it also suggests action to be taken if an ALS-like syndrome should occur in a patient using statins.

You could easily access research by Dr. Peter Langsjoen who has published articles/studies on association btn statins and CHF in elderly patients; dr. Paul Phillips who has published articles and studies on myopathies and statins, Dr. Beatrice Golomb, Dr. Mark Tarnoplasky, and many many others who have sounded the alarm that statins’ pleiotropic effects may not be so wonderful after all…

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 08:32:17 +0000

Interesting point “Anonymous” regarding Dawngrrl’s comment. But, I was until now totally unaware of “spacedoc.net” and cannot see any credentials pertaining to the author of the site other than that he is a former NASA astronaut (why does that qualify him to discuss statins). Incidentally, the site resembles the countless affiliate and spam sites trying to sell get-rich-quick “ebooks” and other related materials. I am not suggesting that spacedoc.net is a scam, but I would prefer to read peer-reviewed research papers discussing the effects than visit a site such as that to get my background information on a subject. Any medical professionals reading this care to comment on Anonymous’ point

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 01:19:01 +0000

dawngrrl, you would be incorrect–access “spacedoc.net” and read about the myriad ways in which statins can induce neuromuscular diseases, including interfering with selenoprotein production and thus glutathione reductase, necessary for recycling of glutathione (glutathione being a major anti-oxidant in the brain and found to be deficient in parkinson’s), causing tau phosphorylation–leading to fibrillatory tangles (ie lewy bodies) in the brain; depletion of brain cholesterol, which is necessary for synaptic function of neurons –all neurons….depleting coenzyme q10 stores within the body–coq10 is a madatory cofactor in complex 1 of the respiratory electron chain and thus responsible for the beginning process of production of ATP.–complex 1 dysfunction as well as general mitochondrial dysfunction are thought to be etiopathologic in parkinson’s. okay–enough for now…..suggest you study a bit more about the effects of statins and their effects upon the brain…

By: Brains

Brains — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 13:38:10 +0000

The human brain is apparently the most complicated object in the universe, so it’s no surprise that there’s biochemistry going on in there that we just don’t understand

By: Dawngrrl

Dawngrrl — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 20:11:06 +0000

Interesting stuff…Brain disease has always been of interest to me and particularly Parkinson’s. In Parkinson’s dopamine and/or serotonin-receptors are deficient. In dementia the acetylcholine-metabolism is impaired, in schizophrenia in general too little dopamine and/or serotonin reaches the receptors.

It would seem to me that a drug (e.g. statin drugs) could only have an effect on what is already there – or not there, as opposed to causing an illness.