We propose to study the relations between prospectively collected data on occupation, occupational exposures, medical history, and medication use and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a case-control study nested within the entire population of Denmark between the years 1985 and 2009 using the Danish Registry systems. We will also examine whether any of the potential risk factors-in particular, statin or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use-affect survival with ALS. The population of Denmark is approximately 5 million men and women and the Danish Registry system allows for the linkage of data for each individual on, among other things, occupational history, hospital use, and prescription medication. These data go back as far as 1964 for occupational history. There are roughly 100-150 new ALS cases each year in Denmark, thus the proposed investigation will include an estimated 2838 incident ALS cases between 1985 and 2009 and 100 controls for each case, making it the largest study of ALS to date within a very large, well-defined and completely enumerated population, with prospectively collected exposure data with respect to disease onset and a long follow-up time.

Public Health Relevance

This study will examine whether particular environmental factors increase the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In, particular, we will focus on lead and formaldehyde exposure, trauma, and use of statin and hormone replacement therapy medications. Furthermore, we will assess whether these factors affect the survival of patients with ALS.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01ES019188-02
Application #
8141427
Study Section
Neurological, Aging and Musculoskeletal Epidemiology (NAME)
Program Officer
Kirshner, Annette G
Project Start
2010-09-10
Project End
2015-04-30
Budget Start
2011-05-01
Budget End
2012-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$386,511
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
149617367
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
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Seals, Ryan M; Kioumourtzoglou, Marianthi-Anna; Gredal, Ole et al. (2017) Occupational formaldehyde and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Epidemiol 32:893-899
Hughes, Katherine C; Gao, Xiang; Kim, Iris Y et al. (2016) Intake of antioxidant vitamins and risk of Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord 31:1909-1914
Seals, Ryan M; Kioumourtzoglou, Marianthi-Anna; Hansen, Johnni et al. (2016) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and the Military: A Population-based Study in the Danish Registries. Epidemiology 27:188-93
Kioumourtzoglou, Marianthi-Anna; Seals, Ryan M; Gredal, Ole et al. (2016) Cardiovascular disease and diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A population based study. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 17:548-554
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Seals, Ryan M; Hansen, Johnni; Gredal, Ole et al. (2013) Age-period-cohort analysis of trends in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Denmark, 1970-2009. Am J Epidemiol 178:1265-71