Mortality from motor neuron disease in Japan, 1950–1990: association with radioactive fallout from atmospheric weapons testing

Motor neuron disease (MND) is a progressive and invariably fatal disease affecting the nuclei of the pyramidal tract and anterior horn cells. Despite intensive research into environmental agents associated with the onset or course of the disease, there is no single factor that can be confidently lin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the neurological sciences 1995-12, Vol.134 (1), p.61-66
Main Authors: Neilson, Stuart, Robinson, Ian, Rose, Frank Clifford
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aetiology
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Biological and medical sciences
Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases
DNA repair
Environmental Health
Female
Humans
Japan
Japan - epidemiology
Logistic Models
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Mortality
Motor neuron disease
Motor Neuron Disease - mortality
Neurology
Nuclear Warfare
Radiation
Radioactive Fallout - adverse effects
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Description
Summary:Motor neuron disease (MND) is a progressive and invariably fatal disease affecting the nuclei of the pyramidal tract and anterior horn cells. Despite intensive research into environmental agents associated with the onset or course of the disease, there is no single factor that can be confidently linked over time with regional, national or international variations in mortality rates. However, unusual variations in MND mortality rate in Japan from 1950–1990 were found to correlate highly significantly with variations in radioactive fallout released by atmospheric weapons testing in the Pacific. This association could be explained by the ingestion of alpha-emitting radionuclides acting upon a pre-existing susceptible subpopulation, a hypothesis which is consistent with recent research on the epidemiology and pathology of MND. However, it is likely that radiation is only one of many factors that act singly or in combination to accelerate the condition in subpopulations susceptible to MND.
ISSN:0022-510X
1878-5883
DOI:10.1016/0022-510X(95)00223-1