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Do you screen for any environmental exposures in patients with newly diagnosed ALS?

Are there any environmental exposures you ask about for newly diagnosed ALS patients?
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Do you screen for environmental exposures in ALS patients?

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2 Answers
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Neurology · University of Minnesota
Answered on

I would at least ask the questions when obtaining history-specifically regarding occupational exposure to heavy metals like mercury, lead or arsenic. There is also a theory about BMAA a toxic aminoacid made by Cyanobacteria that may explain clusters of ALS-like or Parkinsonian syndrome that occurred...

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Mednet Member
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Neurology · Kaiser Permanente
Answered on

Risk factors of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a global meta-summary (published in Frontiers of Neuroscience in April 2023) looked at genetic and non-genetic risk factors for ALS. 230 eligible studies were included, of which 67 involved 22 non-genetic factors, and 163 involved genetic factors. Four ...

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