AGE, LEAD EXPOSURE AND NEUROBEHAVIORAL DECLINE

我们最近完成了一项横断面研究，考察了这种关系 职业接触四乙基铅(TEL)与无机铅和 认知功能(CF)。人们一致地观察到与 铅暴露持续时间以及暴露和剂量的累积估计， 主要在三个领域：语言学习/记忆， 注意力/专注力，以及精神/运动执行力的速度和准确性 功能。横断面数据支持先前的动物研究和 人类病例报告。此外，已知TEL可引起神经纤维性疾病 动物模型中的纠缠。然而，到目前为止，还没有预期的数据 为因果关系提供支持。铅暴露研究 人口是独一无二的，因为有大量的数据可供估计 累积接触铅。我们建议进行一项纵向研究 400名现任和前任铅接触工人CF值变化的研究 相比之下，400人的年龄、教育程度和种族频率。匹配人口 控制。所有科目入学时年龄在50岁至74岁之间， 在36个月的时间里检查了四次。测试将包括 一系列全面的神经行为测试，将用于 评估各种认知和功能领域。此外, 嗅觉功能和外周振动阈值也将 评估过了。我们的中心目标是确定 铅接触工人的认知功能比这更强 预计仅来自老龄化(以频率匹配的人口衡量 如果是这样的话，这种变化最初是否与年龄有关 暴露量、首次暴露量的时间和上次暴露量的时间。作为一名 次要目的，我们建议检查我们观察到的差异 在功能上是特定的。本研究的重点是概括性的 有兴趣了解接触艾滋病的长期后果 神经毒素及其与退行性改变模型的关系 像阿尔茨海默氏症这样的疾病。

We have recently completed a cross-sectional study examining the relation between occupational exposure tetraethyllead (TEL) and inorganic lead and cognitive function (CF). Associations were consistently observed with lead exposure duration and cumulative estimates of exposure and dose, primarily in three domains: verbal learning/memory, attention/concentration, and speed and accuracy of mental/motor executive functions. The cross-sectional data support prior animal studies and human case reports. Moreover, TEL is known to cause neurofibrillary tangles in animal models. However, to date there are no prospective data to provide support for a causal relation. The lead exposed study population is unique because extensive data are available to estimate cumulative exposure to lead. We propose to conduct a longitudinal study to examine change in CF in 400 current and former lead exposed workers compared to 400 age, education, and race frequency. matched population controls. All subjects will be 50 to 74 years of age at enrollment and examined four times over a 36 month period. Testing will consist of a comprehensive battery of neurobehavioral tests which will be used to assess a wide variety of cognitive and functional domains. In addition, olfactory function and peripheral vibration threshold will also be assessed. Our central objective is to determine whether the decline in cognitive function among lead exposed workers is greater than that expected from aging alone (as measured in frequency matched population controls) and, if so, whether the change is related to age at first exposure, time since first exposure, and time since last exposure. As a secondary aim, we propose to examine whether the differences we observe are functionally specific. The focus of this study is both of general interest in understanding the long term consequences of exposure to neurotoxins and relevant to models of degenerative changes observed in conditions like Alzheimer's disease.