The increasing importance of environmental conditions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons (MNs). Although a small percentage of ALS has a familial origin, the vast majority of cases are sporadic in which genetic factors and environment interact with each other leading to disease onset...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of biometeorology 2018-08, Vol.62 (8), p.1361-1374
Main Authors: Riancho, Javier, Bosque-Varela, Pilar, Perez-Pereda, Sara, Povedano, Mónica, de Munaín, Adolfo López, Santurtun, Ana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - epidemiology
Animal Physiology
Autoimmune diseases
Biological and Medical Physics
Biophysics
Body mass
Body mass index
Body size
Cancer
Cardiovascular diseases
Degeneration
Demographics
Diagnostic systems
Disease
Earth and Environmental Science
Environment
Environmental conditions
Environmental Exposure
Environmental factors
Environmental Health
Environmental Pollutants - toxicity
Exposure
Genetic factors
Genetic load
Health risks
Heavy metals
Humans
Meteorology
Motor Neurons
Neurodegeneration
Nutrition
Physical activity
Plant Physiology
Reagents
Review Paper
Risk
Risk analysis
Risk factors
Toxicants
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Summary:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons (MNs). Although a small percentage of ALS has a familial origin, the vast majority of cases are sporadic in which genetic factors and environment interact with each other leading to disease onset in genetically predisposed individuals. In the current model of the disease, each individual has a determined genetic load, some degree of cell degeneration related to age and several risky environmental exposures. In this scenario, MN degeneration would occur when the sum of these factors reach a certain threshold. To date, an extensive list of environmental factors has been associated to ALS, including different categories, such as exposure to heavy metals and other toxicants, cyanotoxins or infectious agents. In addition, in recent years, lifestyle and other demographic parameters are gaining relevance in the genesis of the disease. Among them, physical activity, nutrition, body mass index, cardiovascular risk factors, autoimmune diseases and cancer are some of the conditions which have been related to the disease. In this review, we will discuss the potential mechanisms of environmental conditions in motor neuron degeneration. Understanding the role of each one of these factors as well as their interactions appears as a crucial step in order to develop new preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for ALS patients.
ISSN:0020-7128
1432-1254
DOI:10.1007/s00484-018-1550-2