Life Course Exposure to Cyanobacteria and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Survival

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Neuroscience
• Toxicology

Background:

• Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) are global and pose risks through toxin exposure.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with complex etiology.
• Existing research lacks robust methods to quantify long-term environmental exposures to cyanoHABs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate life course exposure measures for cyanobacteria.
• To investigate the association between estimated cyanoHAB exposure and ALS survival.
• To identify potential environmental risk factors influencing ALS progression.

Main Methods:

• Utilized individual residence history, ALS onset dates, and satellite data (Cyanobacteria Assessment Network).
• Developed weighted exposure metrics based on residence duration and proximity (0.25-10 km) to water bodies with cyanoHABs.
• Evaluated various metrics, buffer sizes (2.5-5 km), and exposure windows relative to disease onset.

Main Results:

• Most participants lived within 5 km of cyanoHABs during their lifetime.
• Increased cyanoHAB exposure was associated with up to 0.89 years shorter ALS survival.
• Significant interactions were observed for individuals engaging in swimming, fishing, or using private wells.

Conclusions:

• Developed novel, spatially and temporally resolved cyanoHAB exposure measures for population studies.
• Findings suggest cyanoHAB exposure as a potential, modifiable risk factor for ALS survival.
• Highlights the need for further research to confirm these associations and explore links with other neurodegenerative diseases.