An overview on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cadmium
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REVIEW ARTICLE
An overview on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cadmium Riccardo Oggiano 1 & Andrea Pisano 1 & Angela Sabalic 1 & Cristiano Farace 1,2 & Grazia Fenu 1 & Simone Lintas 1 & Giovanni Forte 3 & Beatrice Bocca 3 & Roberto Madeddu 1,2 Received: 14 July 2020 / Accepted: 1 December 2020 # The Author(s) 2020
Abstract The present review represents an update about the knowledge of the possible role of Cadmium (Cd) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) initiation and its progression. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that occurs in adulthood; its etiology is unknown and leads to death within a few years from its appearance. Among the various possible causes that can favor the development of the disease, heavy metals cannot be excluded. Cadmium is a heavy metal that does not play a biological role, but its neurotoxicity is well known. Numerous in vitro studies on cell and animal models confirm the toxicity of the metal on the nervous system, but these data are not accompanied by an epidemiological evidence, and, thus, an unclear correlation between Cd and the onset of the disease can be pointed out. On the other hand, a possible multifactorial and synergic mechanism in which Cd may have a role can explain the ALS onset. More efforts in new clinical, biochemical, and epidemiological studies are necessary to better elucidate the involvement of Cd in this lethal disease. Keywords Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis . Cadmium . Motor neuron disease . Heavy metals . Neurodegenerative disease
Introduction Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that occurs in adulthood. It is characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons in the motor cortex, brain stem, and spinal cord. The disease causes muscle wasting and paralysis and usually leads to death within 2–5 years of its onset [1]. ALS patients can be classified into two groups: sporadic (ALSs) and familial (ALSf). ALSs represents about 90–95% of cases while ALSf the remaining 5–10% [2]. The average age at disease onset is ca. 60 years for the sporadic form and ca. 50 years for the family one [1]. It has a worldwide incidence of about 2 cases per 100,000 subjects and a prevalence that varies from 4 to 7 cases per 100,000 subjects [3], with uniform rates in Caucasian populations and lower rates in African, Asian, and Hispanic populations [4]. In most * Roberto Madeddu [email protected] 1
Department of Biomedical Science – Histology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
2
National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Rome, Italy
3
Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
studies, ALS is more common in men than women [5, 6]. In European populations, the incidence of ALS has been estimated at 2.6–3.0 cases per 100,000 people [7]. Another paper reported the incidence of the disease in 10 countries of different geographical regions, and a higher prevalence was found in Uruguay, New Zealand, and the USA (age group was between 60 and 79 years) while a lower one in Serbia, China, and Taiwa
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