About
ALS/Parkinsonism-Dementia Complex of the Kii peninsula, Japan (Kii ALS/PDC)
The southern area in the Kii peninsula of Japan (Muro district) is one of the hyperendemic foci of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and parkinsonism-dementia complex (PDC), together with Guam island. High accumulation of phosphorylated tau protein in neurons and glial cells in the central nervous system is the hallmark of ALS/PDC. Epidemiologically, marked decline in ALS incidence and concomitant increase in PDC incidence occurred in 1970s, suggesting changes of some unsolved environmental factors may have induced phenotypic changes of the disease. A research on genetic factors, environmental factors and their interaction is now going on.
Shigeki Kuzuhara, MD,PhD. Professor Emeritus of Neurology, Mie University
Topics
Archive- Publication in the Journal "Neurology"
The titled "β-N-methylamino-L-alanine analysis in the brains of patients with Kii ALS/PDC." by Y.Kokubo et al. was published in the Jounal "Neurology".
- Publication in the Journal "Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism"
The titled "Dopaminergic positron emission tomography study on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex in Kii, Japan." by Y.Kokubo et al. was published in the Jounal "Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism".
- Publication in the Journal "Brain Pathology"
The titled "Unusual tau pathology of the cerebellum in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex from the kii peninsula, Japan." by S.Morimoto et al. was published in the Jounal "Brain Pathology".
Schedule
Archive- Public Lecture in Minami-Ise Town
Minami-Ise Town Hall
October 13, 2013
- Neuropathological Workshop
Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology
August 25, 2013
- Guam Research Project
Visiting to Guam at August 16-18, 2013