Studies representing the accumulated information from the first 30 years of research effort on Guam (1950-1979) have demonstrated a varying degree of decline in the incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the parkinsonism-dementia complex (PDC) of Guam. Analysis with more complete information for the period 1980-1989 provides more valid estimates of the later patterns in the incidence of ALS and PDC and affords a more extensive assessment of trends over a 40-year period. The annual age-adjusted incidence of ALS was 7/100,000 and the annual age-adjusted incidence of PDC was 22/100,000 in 1989. The incidence was much higher for the period 1980-1989 than suggested in previous reports. These findings provide compelling evidence that this spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases continues to have a significant impact on the health of the Chamorro people of Guam.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000078505 | DOI Listing |
Biomedicines
January 2025
Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.
A valuable outcome measure to monitor amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease progression is crucial in clinical trials. Rasch-Built Overall Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disability Scale (ROADS) is a novel questionnaire assessing ALS disability. Currently, there are no studies on the relationship between ROADS and ALS survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomedicines
December 2024
Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.
The occurrence of sleep disturbances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients is widely reported. However, there is still a lack of reliable evidence of a relationship between sleep disturbances and the risk of developing ALS. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the longitudinal associations between sleep traits and the risk of incident ALS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomedicines
December 2024
School of Health Sciences, IMU University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia.
Background/objectives: (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a debilitating, incurable neurodegenerative disorder characterised by motor neuron death in the spinal cord, brainstem, and motor cortex. With an incidence rate of about 4.42 cases per 100,000 people annually, ALS severely impacts motor function and quality of life, causing progressive muscle atrophy, spasticity, paralysis, and eventually death.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiology (Basel)
January 2025
Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, Medical School, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by profound differences between females and males in terms of incidence, clinical presentation, and disease progression. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that differences in sensitivity to medical treatments may exist between the two sexes. Although the role of sex hormones and sex chromosomes in driving differential susceptibility to these diseases is well-established, the molecular alterations underlying these differences remain poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAmyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener
January 2025
Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Objective: Previous studies have hinted at an association between water exposure and the development of ALS. However, proximity measures to these water sources have been limited to questionnaires or large buffers due to a lack of fine geospatial measures. They also do not distinguish the various classes of hydrographic features.
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