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Handedness, immune disorders and information bias
M Chavance1, G Dellatolas, M G Bousser
1INSERM U169, Villejuif, France.
Neuropsychologia
|January 1, 1990
Summary
This study on handedness and immune disorders found no direct link. However, individuals reporting fewer health issues tended to be more right-handed, suggesting potential information bias in self-reporting.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Previous research has explored potential associations between handedness and various health conditions, including immune disorders and migraine.
- Theories such as Geschwind's hypothesis have proposed biological links between these factors.
- Investigating these relationships is crucial for understanding underlying biological mechanisms and potential confounding factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between handedness and the prevalence of migraine and immune disorders.
- To compare the handedness of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), type I diabetes, Graves' disease, or migraine against a general population control group.
- To evaluate the influence of self-reported health status on observed handedness patterns.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted.
- Handedness was assessed using a 10-item questionnaire to calculate a handedness index.
- Participants included patients diagnosed with SLE, type I diabetes, Graves' disease, or migraine, and a control group from the general population.
Main Results:
- No significant overall difference in handedness was observed between patient groups and the general control population.
- Controls who denied any history of migraine or allergic diseases exhibited significantly higher right-handedness (lower handedness index) compared to those reporting such conditions.
- A consistent trend showed that individuals reporting fewer health issues were more right-handed, observed across 27 out of 32 health-related questions.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that observed associations between handedness and immune disorders or migraine may be influenced by information bias.
- Individuals who are more right-handed may be more likely to underreport or deny past health issues, leading to apparent correlations.
- This highlights the importance of considering information bias in the design and interpretation of future epidemiological studies investigating handedness and health.