| 提要註: |
Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD) are degenerative neurological diseases primarily affecting older adults. LBD encompasses dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and PD dementia (PDD). Although several risk factors, such as viral infections, environmental toxins, and genetics, have been identified, the exact causes of these illnesses are still unknown. Though not all potential risk factors have been thoroughly investigated, PD and LBD progressively debilitate from brain nerve damage due to decreasing dopamine levels and too much aggregated alpha-synuclein (αSyn) protein and, over time, where the neurons stop working and eventually die. PD and LBD negatively impact patients, families, and the U.S. healthcare system. Purpose: This study aimed to measure the effect size of different potential viral infections and chemical exposures to determine if any are predictors of PD and LBD in the older U.S. population. Methods: Quantitative cross-sectional research was used to measure the effect of viral infections and hazardous chemicals on PD and LBD in older U.S. adults from 20002010. In addition, covariates (also known as control variables) include age, sex, race, pneumonia, and other diseases, disorders, or pathological manifestations. Data were collected from the Utah Department of Health Office of Health Care Statistics Hospital Healthcare Facility Discharge Database. Multiple logistic regression analysis helped determine if a relationship exists between the studied variables. Results: The study included 6,413 U.S. older adults aged 50 to 99, with the largest group in the sample aged 50-60 (n = 2,977; 46.4%). There was a slight male majority (n = 3,465; 54%) with fewer females (n = 2,945; 46%) and a majority White race (n = 3,208; 50%). The number of subjects diagnosed with PD totaled 16.7% (n = 1,073), IAV totaled 47.9% (n = 3,075), HCV totaled 30.2% (n = 1,936), EBV totaled 0.8% (n = 53), and toxic chemical exposure totaled 0.5% (n = 33).Four separate Chi-square tests of independence were performed to examine the relationship between IAV, HCV, EBV, and chemical exposure on PD. Results showed a significant difference for all four predictors: IAV (p < .001), HCV (p < .001), EBV (p = .001), and toxic chemicals (p =.01). Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected, concluding that there appears to be a statistically significant relationship between the four predictors and PD. However, these differences within the sample highlighted that very few people with IAV and none with HCV, EBV, or chemical exposure developed PD. Given the very small numbers of people with both PD and IAV, HCV, EBV, or chemical exposure, it is difficult to draw clear conclusions. Four Chi-square tests of independence were performed to examine the relationship between IAV, HCV, EBV, and chemical exposure on LBD. Results show a significant difference between IAV (p <.001) and HCV (p <.001) predictors. Thus, the null hypothesis was rejected, concluding that a statistically significant relationship between the two predictors and LBD appears to exist. However, these differences highlight that, within the sample, no one with IAV, HCV, EBV, or chemical exposure developed LBD. As with PD analyses, the low prevalence of LBD leads to inconclusive findings. |