Dual PA/MPH Program
The Navigation Guide- An Underexplored Phenomenon-Cyanobacteria linked to Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review
Document Type
Poster
Abstract Category
Environmental and Occupational Health
Keywords
neurodegenerative disease, cyanobacteria, systematic review
Publication Date
Spring 5-1-2019
Abstract
Background: β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a neurotoxin found in cyanobacteria. In the 1960s researchers linked BMAA to ALS-PDC (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism-dementia) prevalence within Guam, however this research remained speculative up until recent decades. In vivo and vitro studies have indicated that BMAA may be linked to neurodegenerative diseases, however, the extent to which this relationship is seen in observational human studies is largely unexplored. Objective: The object of this systematic review was to compile existing observational human studies with an exposure of BMAA and a possible outcome of neurodegenerative diseases to see the existence and/or extent of this potentially causal relationship. Methods: Using the Navigation Guide, I applied the following steps to human observational studies: 1) specify the study question, 2) select the evidence, and 3) rate the quality and strength of the evidence. I evaluated each study for a risk of bias and rated the quality and strength of the entire body of evidence. Discussion: I identified nine (9) studies that met the inclusion criteria and after following the protocol in the Navigation Guide, the body of evidence suggested limited evidence of toxicity due to poor study design. Conclusion: Future longitudinal research should combine mapping studies and brain studies to better characterize the relationship between BMAA and neurodegenerative disease.
Open Access
1
The Navigation Guide- An Underexplored Phenomenon-Cyanobacteria linked to Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review
Background: β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a neurotoxin found in cyanobacteria. In the 1960s researchers linked BMAA to ALS-PDC (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism-dementia) prevalence within Guam, however this research remained speculative up until recent decades. In vivo and vitro studies have indicated that BMAA may be linked to neurodegenerative diseases, however, the extent to which this relationship is seen in observational human studies is largely unexplored. Objective: The object of this systematic review was to compile existing observational human studies with an exposure of BMAA and a possible outcome of neurodegenerative diseases to see the existence and/or extent of this potentially causal relationship. Methods: Using the Navigation Guide, I applied the following steps to human observational studies: 1) specify the study question, 2) select the evidence, and 3) rate the quality and strength of the evidence. I evaluated each study for a risk of bias and rated the quality and strength of the entire body of evidence. Discussion: I identified nine (9) studies that met the inclusion criteria and after following the protocol in the Navigation Guide, the body of evidence suggested limited evidence of toxicity due to poor study design. Conclusion: Future longitudinal research should combine mapping studies and brain studies to better characterize the relationship between BMAA and neurodegenerative disease.
Comments
Presented at Research Days 2019.