Risk Factors

Question 1

What are the risk factors for motor neurone disease?

Answer 1

• Male gender.
• Increasing age.
• Genetic susceptibility (> 40 genes identified, inc. c9orf72 and SOD1).
• Environmental: military service, pesticides, solvents, heavy metals.
• Lifestyle: smoking.

Question 2

What are the risk factors for multiple sclerosis?

Answer 2

• Female gender.
• Age 25 – 35 years.
• Family history.
• Coexisting autoimmune diseases (e.g., T1DM).
• Environmental: vitamin D deficiency, previous EBV infection.
• Lifestyle: smoking.

Question 3

What are the risk factors for Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 3

PD is an idiopathic disease, but strongest proposed risk factors are:

• Male gender.
• Increasing age.
• Genetic susceptibility – namely, 1st-degree family history.