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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis likely share an environmental cause, geographic patterns reveal (medicalxpress.com)

submitted 4 months ago by girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to c/science@lemmy.world

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A new study published in Scientific Reports indicates that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) have an extremely high geographic association, even after controlling for race, gender, wealth, latitude, and access to neurological health care.

"The results of the study are surprising because previous studies have typically concluded there was no evidence for a mechanistic or genetic link between the two diseases," explains study author Melissa Schilling, a professor at New York University's Stern School of Business who specializes in analyzing large-scale datasets using econometrics.

The study also shows that the relationship between the two diseases has likely been overlooked until now because of a "Simpson's Paradox"—a statistical phenomenon whereby a trend appears in different groups of data but disappears or reverses when the groups are combined.

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[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Years ago, I read a quote from a researcher who concluded that every disease is an infection.

I know that's not commonly believed, that's why I remembered the quote. But, maybe it will turn out he was right, someday.

[–] MushuChupacabra@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

But, maybe it will turn out he was right, someday

Doubtful, as it's demonstrably false.

[–] Ageroth@reddthat.com 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Probably depends on the technical definition of "disease" cus obviously stuff like cancer or vitamin deficiency (scurvy) are not infections, but I'm not sure if they're considered diseases.
Do you have a demonstration of the falsehood?

[–] MushuChupacabra@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

Probably depends on the technical definition of "disease" cus obviously stuff like cancer or vitamin deficiency (scurvy) are not infections, but I'm not sure if they're considered diseases. Do you have a demonstration of the falsehood?

You just demonstrated the falsehood in your first paragraph; playing loosely with the definition of the word disease is precisely why the statement is flat out wrong.

but I'm not sure if they're considered diseases.

Which highlights the problem of just taking the platitude at face value. If you are not sure what is considered a disease, and what is not, then it is not reasonable to make claims about the platitude that All diseases are caused by infections.

[–] AmidFuror@fedia.io 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Like cystic fibrosis? Sickle cell anemia? Thalassemia?

[–] No_Eponym@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

In a way, Sickle Cell is caused by a disease. Malaria makes this disease advantageous as children who have it are more likely to survive to adulthood and pass on the disease to offspring, despite the other deleterious impacts.

[–] AmidFuror@fedia.io 1 points 4 months ago

Malaria selects for it, but it is also passed down in non-malarial regions. You can definitely get the disease without ever encountering a Plasmodium parasite.

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Easy counterexample is myotoic dystrophy. But, I wouldn't be surprised if we vastly underestimate the number of diseases that are caused by pathogens.