Handedness in Colombia: some associated conditions

Area of Science:

• Neuroepidemiology
• Human behavior
• Neurology

Background:

• Handedness, a common human trait, has been linked to various neurological and developmental factors.
• Understanding the prevalence and correlates of handedness in diverse populations is crucial for neuroepidemiological research.
• Previous studies have explored handedness but comprehensive population-based data from South America are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of right-handedness in a large, population-based sample across five regions in Colombia.
• To investigate the association between handedness and demographic factors such as age and education.
• To explore the relationship between handedness and the prevalence of self-reported neurological symptoms and head injuries.

Main Methods:

• A population-based sample of 6941 subjects aged 10 years and older was recruited from five distinct regions in Colombia.
• Participants self-identified their dominant hand (right-handedness).
• Data on age, education, and history of loss of consciousness, tremors, speech difficulties, and traumatic head injury were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Overall, 91.65% of participants identified as right-handers, with slight variations between males (90.6%) and females (92.7%).
• Handedness showed a significant correlation with education in men, but not in women. Age was not associated with handedness.
• Non-right-handed individuals reported a higher prevalence of loss of consciousness, tremors, speech difficulties, and traumatic head injury, particularly pronounced in men.

Conclusions:

• The study establishes a high prevalence of right-handedness in the Colombian population.
• A significant association between handedness and education in men suggests potential neurodevelopmental influences.
• The increased prevalence of neurological symptoms and head trauma in non-right-handers warrants further investigation into underlying mechanisms and potential health disparities.