This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Background and Objectives Whether physical activity (PA) is a risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is controversial because data on lifelong PA are rare. The main objective of this study is to provide insight into PA as a potential risk factor for ALS, reporting data on cumulative PA, leisure-time PA, and occupational PA. This study also aims to gather evidence on the role of PA as a prognostic factor in disease course.
Methods Lifetime PA values collected by questionnaires addressing work and leisure time were quantified into metabolic equivalents (METs). A population-based case-control study embedded in the ALS Registry Swabia served to calculate the odds ratio (OR) of ALS by PA in different time intervals and prognosis.
Results In ALS cases (393 cases, 791 age- and sex-matched controls), we observed reduced total PA at interview and up to 5 years before interview compared to controls. Total PA was not associated with ALS risk 5 to 55 years before interview. Heavy occupational work intensity was associated with increased ALS risk (OR 1.97, 95% confidence interval 1.34, 2.89). Total PA levels were associated with survival in a nonlinear manner: inactive patients and highest activity levels (25 MET-h/wk) revealed the worst survival time of 15.4 and 19.3 months, respectively. Best median survival with 29.8 months was seen at 10.5 MET-h/wk after adjustment for other prognostic factors.
Discussion Lifetime combined PA decreased sharply several years before disease onset compared to controls. The risk of developing ALS was not associated with former total PA levels 5 to 55 years before interview in contrast to occupational PA, probably reflecting work-associated exposures. We found a strong nonlinear association of current and prediagnostic PA level and survival in ALS cases with the best survival with moderate PA. PA intensity may be a disease-modifying factor with an unfavorable outcome in sedentary and hyperactive behavior.
Classification of Evidence This study provides Class III evidence that PA was not associated with the development of ALS.
Glossary
- ALS=
- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
- BMI=
- body mass index;
- CI=
- confidence interval;
- MET=
- metabolic equivalent;
- OR=
- odds ratio;
- PA=
- physical activity
Footnotes
Go to Neurology.org/N for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.
↵* These authors contributed equally to this work.
The ALS Registry Swabia Study Group coinvestigators are listed in Appendix 2 at http://links.lww.com/WNL/B620.
Class of Evidence: NPub.org/coe
- Received April 5, 2021.
- Accepted in final form August 18, 2021.
- © 2021 American Academy of Neurology
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
