Incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and of the parkinsonism-dementia complex of Guam, 1950-1989.
Studies representing the accumulated information from the first 30 years of research effort on Guam (1950-1979) have demonstrated a varying degree of decline in the incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the parkinsonism-dementia complex (PDC) of Guam. Analysis with more complete information for the period 1980-1989 provides more valid estimates of the later patterns in the incidence of ALS and PDC and affords a more extensive assessment of trends over a 40-year period. The annual age-adjusted incidence of ALS was 7/100,000 and the annual age-adjusted incidence of PDC was 22/100,000 in 1989. The incidence was much higher for the period 1980-1989 than suggested in previous reports. These findings provide compelling evidence that this spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases continues to have a significant impact on the health of the Chamorro people of Guam.
Epidemiology Discipline, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Stephen.C.Waring@uth.tmc.edu
Stephen C
SC
Waring
Cony
C
Esteban-Santillan
Dwayne M
DM
Reed
Ulla-Katrina
UK
Craig
Darwin R
DR
Labarthe
Ronald C
RC
Petersen
Leonard T
LT
Kurland
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006141:Guam / Q000453:epidemiology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history