Race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and ALS mortality in the United States.

Objective: To determine whether race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status are associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mortality in the United States.

Methods: The National Longitudinal Mortality Study (NLMS), a United States-representative, multistage sample, collected race/ethnicity and socioeconomic data prospectively. Mortality information was obtained by matching NLMS records to the National Death Index (1979-2011).

Lead-Related Genetic Loci, Cumulative Lead Exposure and Incident Coronary Heart Disease: The Normative Aging Study.

Background: Cumulative exposure to lead is associated with cardiovascular outcomes. Polymorphisms in the δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), hemochromatosis (HFE), heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1), vitamin D receptor (VDR), glutathione S-transferase (GST) supergene family (GSTP1, GSTT1, GSTM1), apolipoprotein E (APOE),angiotensin II receptor-1 (AGTR1) and angiotensinogen (AGT) genes, are believed to alter toxicokinetics and/or toxicodynamics of lead.

Objectives: We assessed possible effect modification by genetic polymorphisms in ALAD, HFE, HMOX1, VDR, GSTP1, GSTT1, GSTM1, APOE, AGTR1 and AGT individually and as the genetic risk score (GRS) on the association between cumulative lead exposure and incident coronary heart disease (CHD) events.

Confounding of the association between statins and Parkinson disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Both statins and higher serum cholesterol have been reported to reduce to risk of Parkinson Disease (PD). Given the importance of adjusting for cholesterol levels when evaluating the effect of statins, we assessed whether the protective effect of statins would remain when adjustment for cholesterol is performed.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of epidemiologic studies that reported quantitative estimates of the association between statins and incident PD and were published through February 2016.

Cardiovascular disease and diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A population based study.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly fatal neurodegenerative disease of unknown etiology. We investigated the association between ALS diagnosis and prior cardiovascular disease (CVD), and CVD-specific, hospital admissions in the Danish population. We conducted a population based nested case-control study, including 3182 Danish residents diagnosed with ALS at age ≥20 years (1982-2009) and 100 randomly selected controls for each case, matched on age, gender and vital status.

Telomere Length, Long-Term Black Carbon Exposure, and Cognitive Function in a Cohort of Older Men: The VA Normative Aging Study.

Background: Long-term air pollution exposure has been associated with age-related cognitive impairment, possibly because of enhanced inflammation. Leukocytes with longer telomere length (TL) are more responsive to inflammatory stimuli, yet TL has not been evaluated in relation to air pollution and cognition.

Objectives: We assessed whether TL modifies the association of 1-year exposure to black carbon (BC), a marker of traffic-related air pollution, with cognitive function in older men, and we examined whether this modification is independent of age and of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation.

Rivastigmine Patch in Chinese Patients with Probable Alzheimer's disease: A 24-week, Randomized, Double-Blind Parallel-Group Study Comparing Rivastigmine Patch (9.5 mg/24 h) with Capsule (6 mg Twice Daily).

Aims: To compare the once-daily rivastigmine patch 9.5 mg/24 h (10 cm(2) ) versus twice-daily capsule (12 mg/day) in Chinese patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) (mini-mental state examination [MMSE] scores of 10-20).

Methods: The primary objective was to demonstrate the noninferiority of patch to capsule in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) change from baseline to 24 week.

XRF-measured bone lead (Pb) as a biomarker for Pb exposure and toxicity among children diagnosed with Pb poisoning.

Childhood lead (Pb) poisoning remains a global issue, especially in industrial areas. In this study, 115 children with average age 5.7 years were recruited as either patient diagnosed with Pb poisoning or controls at Xinhua Hospital in China.

Physical Trauma and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Population-Based Study Using Danish National Registries.

Prior studies have suggested that physical trauma might be associated with the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We conducted a population-based, individually matched case-control study in Denmark to assess whether hospitalization for trauma is associated with a higher risk of developing ALS. There were 3,650 incident cases of ALS in the Danish National Patient Register from 1982 to 2009.

Endogenous sex hormones and cognitive function in older women.

Introduction: We examined the association between endogenous sex hormones and both objective and subjective measures of cognitive function.

Methods: We followed 3044 women up to 23 years in a prospective cohort study. We measured plasma levels of estrone, estrone sulfate, estradiol, androstenedione, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) in 1989-1990, conducted neuropsychologic testing in 1999-2008, and inquired about subjective cognition in 2012.

Head injury at early ages is associated with risk of Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: The literature on the effect of head injuries on the risk of PD is inconclusive. Some researchers have hypothesized that studies that have seen an effect are simply capturing injury related to pre-clinical PD. However in animal models brain inflammation, which can be initiated by head trauma, has been shown to produce PD-like effects.

Long-term exposure to black carbon, cognition and single nucleotide polymorphisms in microRNA processing genes in older men.

Introduction: Air pollution exposure has been linked to impaired cognitive aging, but little is known about biomarkers modifying this association. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control gene expression and neuronal programming. miRNA levels vary due to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes processing miRNAs from precursor molecules.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and the Military: A Population-based Study in the Danish Registries.

Background: Prior studies have suggested that military service may be associated with the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We conducted a population-based case-control study in Denmark to assess whether occupation in the Danish military is associated with an increased risk of developing ALS.

Methods: There were 3,650 incident cases of ALS recorded in the Danish National Patient Registry between 1982 and 2009.

Evaluation of a Self-Administered Computerized Cognitive Battery in an Older Population.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the utility of the Cogstate self-administered computerized neuropsychological battery in a large population of older men.

Methods: We invited 7,167 men (mean age of 75 years) from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, a prospective cohort of male health professionals. We considered individual Cogstate scores and composite scores measuring psychomotor speed and attention, learning and working memory and overall cognition.

Military Service and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in a Population-based Cohort.

Background: Military service has been suggested to be associated with an increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but only one prospective study-of a volunteer cohort-has examined this question.

Methods: We prospectively assessed the relation between service in the military and ALS mortality among participants in the National Longitudinal Mortality Study, a population-representative cohort of U.S.

Air Pollution and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Causal or Confounded?

In the last decade, several studies have examined the association between perinatal exposure to ambient air pollution and risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These studies have largely been consistent, with associations seen with different aspects of air pollution, including hazardous air toxics, ozone, particulate, and traffic-related pollution. Confounding by socioeconomic status (SES) and place of residence are of particular concern, as these can be related to ASD case ascertainment and other potential causal risk factors for ASD.

Spinal Cord Injury and Migraine Headache: A Population-Based Study.

Migraine headaches are a common neurological condition, negatively impacting health and quality of life. The association between migraines and spinal cord injury (SCI) is intriguing to consider from the perspective that migraine headaches may be acquired in response to damage in the spinal cord [corrected].The primary objective of this study was to further examine the association between SCI and migraine headache, controlling for potential confounding variables.

Comparison of microneedles and adhesive-tape stripping in skin preparation for epicutaneous allergen delivery.

Background: Epicutaneous immunotherapy targets the network of dendritic cells in the epidermis. Allergen exposure of the dermal layers should be limited as these contain mast cells and blood vessels, which increases the risk for local and systemic allergic reactions.

Methods: This intraindividually controlled trial included 20 subjects with birch pollen allergy.

Cumulative lead exposure is associated with reduced olfactory recognition performance in elderly men: The Normative Aging Study.

Introduction: Olfactory dysfunction has been identified as an early warning sign for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, dementia and more. A few occupational and environmental exposures have also been associated with reduced olfactory function, although the effects of long term environmental exposure to lead on olfactory dysfunction have not been explored. Here we performed olfactory recognition testing in elderly men in a community-dwelling cohort and examined the association with cumulative lead exposure, as assessed by lead in tibial and patellar bone.

Diabetes Mellitus, Obesity, and Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Population-Based Study.

Importance: Although prior studies have suggested a role of cardiometabolic health on pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the association with diabetes mellitus has not been widely examined. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is the most common motor neuron disorder. Several vascular risk factors have been associated with decreased risk for ALS.

Long-term PM2.5 Exposure and Neurological Hospital Admissions in the Northeastern United States.

Background: Long-term exposure to fine particles (particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm; PM2.5) has been consistently linked to heart and lung disease.

Association of autistic traits in adulthood with childhood abuse, interpersonal victimization, and posttraumatic stress.

Persons with autistic traits may be at elevated risk for interpersonal victimization across the life course. Children with high levels of autistic traits may be targeted for abuse, and deficits in social awareness may increase risk of interpersonal victimization. Additionally, persons with autistic traits may be at elevated risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms subsequent to trauma.