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Cholesterol - A putative endogenous contributor towards Parkinson's disease.

Neurochemistry international
November 1, 2015
Rajib Paul et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tReviewMolecular Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to review the neuropathological effects of excess cholesterol or its metabolites (oxysterols) in the brain, particularly their contribution to Parkinson's disease (PD), and evaluate the potential of statin therapy in reducing PD occurrence.

Results Summary

The study found that high-fat diet exacerbates parkinsonian pathologies, including dopaminergic neuron loss and oxidative stress in animal PD models, while clinical reports on cholesterol's role in PD showed mixed results (some positive, some negative/no correlation). Oxysterols were noted to cause alpha-synuclein aggregation and dopamine neuron destruction in vitro.

Population

Animal models of PD and in vitro neuronal models; some clinical studies referenced.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
oxysterols
increase
alpha-synuclein aggregation and destruction of dopamine containing neurons
in vitro models
-
causing
#1
oxysterols
increase
oxidative stress provoking potency
in vitro models
-
direct influence on
#2
cholesterol or oxysterol
no change
Parkinsonism
prospective clinical reports
-
negative or no correlation
#3
plasma cholesterol
increase
incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD)
prospective clinical studies
-
positive correlation
#4
high fat diet
increase
parkinsonian pathologies, including loss of dopaminergic neurons and oxidative stress parameters
animal models of PD
-
exacerbates
#5
statin therapy
decrease
reducing the occurrence of PD
-
-
cholesterol lowering efficacy
#6
Abstract

Elevated levels of cholesterol and its metabolites (oxysterols) have been reported to be associated not only with several metabolic syndromes, but also become a prognostic risk factor of neurodegenerative diseases particularly Alzheimer's disease. The incidence and the prospect of Alzheimer's disease with respect to elevated levels of cholesterol have been studied extensively and reviewed earlier. Recently, several interesting findings have shown the occurrence of equivalent Parkinsonian pathologies in cellular neuronal models, mediated by oxysterols or excess exposure to cholesterol. In this regard, oxysterols are particular in causing alpha-synuclein aggregation and destruction of dopamine containing neurons in in vitro models, which is linked to their direct influence on oxidative stress provoking potency. Inspite of the significant in vitro reports, which suggest the relativeness of cholesterol or oxysterol towards Parkinsonism, several prospective clinical reports provided a negative or no correlation. However, few prospective clinical studies showed a positive correlation between plasma cholesterol and incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD). Also, few significant studies have convincingly demonstrated that high fat diet exacerbates parkinsonian pathologies, including loss of dopaminergic neurons and oxidative stress parameters in animal models of PD. The present review brings together all the neuropathological proceedings mediated by excess cholesterol or its metabolites in brain in the light of their contribution towards the onset of PD. Also we have reviewed the possibilities of cholesterol lowering efficacy of statin therapy, in reducing the occurrence of PD.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsBrainCholesterolDopaminergic NeuronsHumansOxidative StressParkinson Diseasealpha-Synuclein
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations48
Citations/Year4.8
Relative Citation Ratio1.96
NIH Percentile73.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score0.89
Normalized Score0.61
Related Supplements
Cholesterol - A putative endogenous contributor towards Park... | Panacea Index