LEAD AND OTHER NEUROTOXINS AS RISK FACTORS FOR AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

暴露于环境神经毒素可能会增加 发展神经退行性疾病，无论是直接或通过 与遗传易感性因素的相互作用。 工作已经开始 评估环境暴露在这些病因中的作用， 紊乱 ALS是一种进行性神经系统疾病， 神经元;其病因基本上是未知的。 一项协议已经 为环境风险作用的病例对照研究而开发 ALS的病因因素。 主要假设是， 终生累积铅暴露是ALS的危险因素。 铅 通过测量骨铅，使用新的 X射线荧光技术的发展。 其他环境风险 将调查的因素包括汞、溶剂和 农药 可能增加易感性的基因多态性 铅或其他神经毒素也将被研究。 这项研究将 包括200人的面谈、临床和实验室评估 ALS患者和200名临床对照。

Exposure to environmental neurotoxins is likely to increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases, either directly or through interaction with genetic susceptibility factors. Work has begun to assess the role of environmental exposures in the etiology of these disorders. ALS is a progressive neurological disease affecting motor neurons; its etiology is essentially unknown. A protocol has been developed for a case-control study of the role of environmental risk factors in the etiology of ALS. The primary hypothesis is that cumulative lifetime exposure to lead is a risk factor for ALS. Lead exposure will be assessed by measuring bone lead, using the newly developed technology of x-ray fluorescence. Other environmental risk factors which will be investigated include mercury, solvents, and pesticides. Polymorphisms in genes which may increase susceptibility to lead or other neurotoxins will be also be studied. The study will involve interviews and clinical and laboratory assessments for 200 incident ALS patients and 200 clinical controls.