Geospatial Analysis of Environmental Atmospheric Risk Factors in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review

Mariana Oliveira, André Padrão, André Ramalho, Mariana Lobo, Ana Cláudia Teodoro, Hernâni Gonçalves and Alberto Freitas
Additional contact information
Mariana Oliveira: CINTESIS—Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
André Padrão: Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Porto, Via Panorâmica, s/n, 4150-564 Porto, Portugal
André Ramalho: CINTESIS—Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Mariana Lobo: CINTESIS—Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Ana Cláudia Teodoro: Department of Geosciences, Environment and Land Planning, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Hernâni Gonçalves: CINTESIS—Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Alberto Freitas: CINTESIS—Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-25

Abstract: Despite the vast evidence on the environmental influence in neurodegenerative diseases, those considering a geospatial approach are scarce. We conducted a systematic review to identify studies concerning environmental atmospheric risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases that have used geospatial analysis/tools. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for all scientific studies that included a neurodegenerative disease, an environmental atmospheric factor, and a geographical analysis. Of the 34 included papers, approximately 60% were related to multiple sclerosis (MS), hence being the most studied neurodegenerative disease in the context of this study. Sun exposure ( n = 13) followed by the most common exhaustion gases ( n = 10 for nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and n = 5 for carbon monoxide (CO)) were the most studied atmospheric factors. Only one study used a geospatial interpolation model, although 13 studies used remote sensing data to compute atmospheric factors. In 20% of papers, we found an inverse correlation between sun exposure and multiple sclerosis. No consensus was reached in the analysis of nitrogen dioxide and Parkinson’s disease, but it was related to dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This systematic review (number CRD42020196188 in PROSPERO’s database) provides an insight into the available evidence regarding the geospatial influence of environmental factors on neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords: neurodegenerative; environment; geospatial; epidemiology; systematic review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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