Birth seasonality and the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases in the native population of Guam

American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council
J H Underwood

Abstract

Analyses of data from a linked family register for the native population of Guam reveal marked birth seasonality in nearly 27,000 livebirths registered during the period 1901-1941. In contrast to a November peak for all births, victims of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who died between 1947 and 1984 show a maximum birth peak in February while those afflicted with parkinsonism-dementia (PD) and dying during this period exhibit a bimodal pattern of births peaking in April and October. Birth seasonality in victims of neurologic diseases, including ALS and parkinsonism, has also been reported from Japan. Intensive clinical, genetic, epidemiologic, and other investigations over more than three decades, while noting familial patterns of occurrence, fail to reveal any simple pattern of genetic transmission in the etiology of ALS/PD among natives of Guam, site of one of three hyperendemic foci in the Pacific area for ALS. Several environmental agents have been proposed to account for familial, temporal, and local patterns of occurrence, although no hypothesis has remained unchallenged. This report reviews evidence of birth seasonality in relation to patterns of cycad ingestion, rainfall seasonality, and prevailing morbidity patter...Continue Reading

References

Mar 1, 1991·Annals of Human Biology·T G MurrellI C Robinson
Nov 1, 1990·The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. Le Journal Canadien Des Sciences Neurologiques·A J Hudson, G P Rice
Mar 1, 1990·European Journal of Pediatrics·G MachillS Kropf
Jan 1, 1989·American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council·Ralph M Garruto

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Citations

Jan 1, 1995·American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council·Jane H Underwood
Apr 26, 2008·Health Care for Women International·Amy Su May Lee, Maggie Kirkman

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