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

Comments

Presented at Research Days 2019.

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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.