INTRODUCTION: An environmental trigger of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is supported by geographic disparities in ALS incidence and development of the disease in conjugal couples. This study aims to investigate the incidence of ALS in the Northern New England states of New Hampshire (NH), Vermont (VT), and Maine (ME). METHODS: We reviewed medical records and community databases to identify dwelling addresses of 688 patients diagnosed with ALS in 1997-2009 in NH, VT, and ME. We used spatial analysis to identify clusters of census block groups with statistically significant high incidence. RESULTS: We identified 11 clusters of statistically significant high incidence, each containing 6 or more cases of ALS. These 11 clusters are grouped in 4 distinct regions. CONCLUSIONS: There appear to be areas of significant spatial clustering within Northern New England. Further analysis will be needed to confirm whether there is any correlation between these areas and potential environmental risk factors.
INTRODUCTION: An environmental trigger of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is supported by geographic disparities in ALS incidence and development of the disease in conjugal couples. This study aims to investigate the incidence of ALS in the Northern New England states of New Hampshire (NH), Vermont (VT), and Maine (ME). METHODS: We reviewed medical records and community databases to identify dwelling addresses of 688 patients diagnosed with ALS in 1997-2009 in NH, VT, and ME. We used spatial analysis to identify clusters of census block groups with statistically significant high incidence. RESULTS: We identified 11 clusters of statistically significant high incidence, each containing 6 or more cases of ALS. These 11 clusters are grouped in 4 distinct regions. CONCLUSIONS: There appear to be areas of significant spatial clustering within Northern New England. Further analysis will be needed to confirm whether there is any correlation between these areas and potential environmental risk factors.
Authors: Angeline S Andrew; Erik P Pioro; Meifang Li; Xun Shi; Jiang Gui; Elijah W Stommel; Tanya H Butt; Daniel Peipert; Patricia Henegan; Maeve Tischbein; Pamela Cazzolli; John Novak; Adam Quick; K Doug Pugar; Komal Sawlani; Bashar Katirji; Todd A Hayes; D Kevin Horton; Paul Mehta; Walter G Bradley Journal: Neuroepidemiology Date: 2021-04-26 Impact factor: 3.282
Authors: Dominic N Facciponte; Matthew W Bough; Darius Seidler; James L Carroll; Alix Ashare; Angeline S Andrew; Gregory J Tsongalis; Louis J Vaickus; Patricia L Henegan; Tanya H Butt; Elijah W Stommel Journal: Sci Total Environ Date: 2018-07-20 Impact factor: 7.963
Authors: Kevin A Henry; Jerald Fagliano; Heather M Jordan; Lindsay Rechtman; Wendy E Kaye Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2015-06-03 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Nathan Torbick; Beth Ziniti; Elijah Stommel; Ernst Linder; Angeline Andrew; Tracie Caller; Jim Haney; Walter Bradley; Patricia L Henegan; Xun Shi Journal: Neurotox Res Date: 2017-10-03 Impact factor: 3.911
Authors: Hatice Uenal; Angela Rosenbohm; Johannes Kufeldt; Patrick Weydt; Katharina Goder; Albert Ludolph; Dietrich Rothenbacher; Gabriele Nagel Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-04-10 Impact factor: 3.240