Epidemiology of major neurodegenerative diseases in women: Contribution of the nurses' health study

K.A. Hagan, K.L. Munger, A. Ascherio and F. Grodstein

American Journal of Public Health, 2016, vol. 106, issue 9, 1650-1655

Abstract: Objectives. To review the contribution of the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) to identifying the role of lifestyle, diet, and genetic or biological factors in several neurodegenerative diseases, including cognitivedecline,multiplesclerosis,Parkinson'sdisease,andamyotrophiclateral sclerosis. Methods. We completed a narrative review of the publications of the NHS and NHS II between 1976 and 2016. Results. In primary findings for cognitive function, higher intake of nuts, moderate alcohol consumption, and higher physical activity levels were associated with better cognitive function. Flavonoids, physical activity, and postmenopausal hormone therapywere related to cognitive decline over 2 to 6 years.TheNHS also has been integral in establishing Epstein-Barr virus infection, inadequatevitaminDnutrition, cigarette smoking, and obesity as risk factors for multiple sclerosis and inverse associations between cigarette smoking and caffeine and risk of Parkinson's disease. Increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been associated with cigarette smoking and decreased risk associated with obesity. Conclusions. The NHS has provided invaluable resources on neurodegenerative diseases and contributed to their etiological understanding. We anticipate that the NHS cohorts will contin.

Keywords: adult; epidemiology; female; human; longitudinal study; middle aged; Neurodegenerative Diseases; nurse; prospective study; risk factor; United States; women's health, Adult; Epidemiologic Studies; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Middle Aged; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Nurses; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; United States; Women's Health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303324_9

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303324

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