Dataset Information

Prevalence of potential sports-associated risk factors in Swiss amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been reported to occur with increased incidence amongst physically active people. The role of extrinsic risk factors as physical activity, head trauma and drug/pesticide-exposure in the pathophysiology of ALS and especially in the context of practising sports remains controversial.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively studied exposure to extrinsic factors in 92 ALS patients in the presymptomatic stage. Metabolic equivalents (METs) were calculated and the association of physical activity, drug intake, head trauma and participation in specific sports (football [soccer], ice hockey) with age at symptom-onset was evaluated.

Results

Ninety-five percent of patients considered themselves physically active before symptom-onset. Total MET-values varied broadly and there was no correlation between vigorous physical activity and age at symptom-onset. Mild traumatic brain injury (prevalence = 16.7%) was the most frequent diagnosis after head/neck injury. A history of ≥1 head/neck injuries was associated with a younger age at symptom-onset (61.8 ± 11.0 vs. 54.1 ± 13.0, p = .013). In former football and ice hockey players the rate of vigorous physical activities was increased (p < .05), whereas total MET-values, frequency of head injuries and analgesic intake were not different compared to other ALS patients.

Conclusions

History of head injuries was the only extrinsic risk factor associated with accelerated neurodegeneration in ALS. There was no evidence for extrinsic factors predisposing former football and ice hockey players to ALS. Our data therefore support the hypothesis that not increased physical activity per se, but other unknown environmental factors and/or genetic profile or lifestyle-promoting physical fitness increases ALS susceptibility.

SUBMITTER: Feddermann-Demont N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5390828 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Prevalence of potential sports-associated risk factors in Swiss amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

Feddermann-Demont Nina N Junge Astrid A Weber Konrad P KP Weller Michael M Dvořák Jiří J Tarnutzer Alexander A AA

Brain and behavior 20170316 4

<h4>Objectives</h4>Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been reported to occur with increased incidence amongst physically active people. The role of extrinsic risk factors as physical activity, head trauma and drug/pesticide-exposure in the pathophysiology of ALS and especially in the context of practising sports remains controversial.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>We retrospectively studied exposure to extrinsic factors in 92 ALS patients in the presymptomatic stage. Metabolic equivalents (M ...[more]

PMID: 28413696

Similar Datasets

Project description:Study designSystematic review.IntroductionAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, ultimately resulting in paralysis and death. The condition is considered to be caused by a complex interaction between environmental and genetic factors. Although vast genetic research has deciphered many of the molecular factors in ALS pathogenesis, the environmental factors have remained largely unknown. Recent evidence suggests that participation in certain types of sporting activities are associated with increased risk for ALS.ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that competitive sports at the highest level that involve repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma result in an increased risk of ALS compared with the general population or nonsport controls.MethodsElectronic databases from inception to November 22, 2017 and reference lists of key articles were searched to identify studies meeting inclusion criteria.ResultsSixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Sports assessed (professional or nonprofessional) included soccer (n = 5), American football (n = 2), basketball (n = 1), cycling (n = 1), marathon or triathlon (n = 1), skating (n = 1), and general sports not specified (n = 11). Soccer and American football were considered sports involving repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma. Professional sports prone to repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma were associated with substantially greater effects (pooled rate ratio [RR] 8.52, 95% CI 5.18-14.0) compared with (a) nonprofessional sports prone to repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma (pooled RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.12-3.06); (b) professional sports not prone to repetitive head and neck trauma (pooled RR 1.35, 95% CI 0.67-2.71); or (c) nonprofessional sports not prone to repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma (pooled RR 1.17, 95% CI 0.79-1.71).ConclusionsOur review suggests that increased susceptibility to ALS is significantly and independently associated with 2 factors: professional sports and sports prone to repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma. Their combination resulted in an additive effect, further increasing this association to ALS.

Dataset Information

Prevalence of potential sports-associated risk factors in Swiss amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

Objectives

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Prevalence of potential sports-associated risk factors in Swiss amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

Similar Datasets

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