The study, conducted by Michigan Medicine, analyzed data from 1,100 participants, including 500 ALS patients and 600 healthy controls. The researchers found that individuals who stored chemicals in their garage had a 1.5 times higher risk of developing ALS than those who did not. This association was independent of other known risk factors, such as age, sex, and family history.
Risk Factors for ALS
The study’s findings suggest that exposure to chemicals stored in the garage may be a previously unrecognized risk factor for ALS. The researchers hypothesize that prolonged exposure to these chemicals could contribute to the development of the disease, possibly through mechanisms involving neuroinflammation or oxidative stress. Further research is needed to identify the specific chemicals or chemical mixtures that may be linked to ALS risk and to investigate the underlying biological pathways.