EXPERTS sought to reassure patients today after scientists announced they were planning a study on the link between statins and Parkinson's disease.

The cholesterol-lowering drugs are taken by an estimated three million Britons and are renowned for preventing heart attacks and strokes.

But now scientists are planning a detailed study after research showed a link to Parkinson's, which affects around 120,000 people in the UK.

Charities urged people to continue taking their statins, saying the drugs saved lives.

According to a report, experts from the University of North Carolina said they had found the strongest link yet between Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and Parkinson's.

High levels of LDL cholesterol are linked to heart disease. Statins are known to reduce these LDL levels.

The study of 124 patients revealed those with low levels of LDL cholesterol were around three times as likely to develop Parkinson's to those with higher levels.

Study leader Dr Xuemei Huang said: "I am very concerned, which is why I am planning a further 16,000-patient prospective study."

But Dr Kieran Breen, director of research and development at the Parkinson's Disease Society, said: "A study comparing such small numbers of people cannot establish low LDL cholesterol as a cause of Parkinson's.

"Instead it simply shows there may be some link between the two."

And Dr Patricia Limousin, consultant neurologist at University College London, said: "There is absolutely no evidence that statin drugs cause Parkinson's disease."