Consumption of unregulated food items (false morels) and risk for neurodegenerative disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)

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UDC: 
613.2:616.8-00
DOI: 
10.21668/health.risk/2020.3.11.eng
Authors: 

P.S. Spencer

Organization: 

Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, 97201, USA

Abstract: 

Unknown environmental factors are thought to contribute to the etiology of sporadic forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Strong evidence supporting this view is found in the post-World War decline and disappearance of highincidence ALS in three Western Pacific populations that formerly utilized neurotoxic cycad seed as a traditional source of food and/or medicine. The principal toxins in cycads (cycasin) and in False Morel mushrooms (gyromitrin) generate methyl free radicals that damage DNA and cause mutation and uncontrolled division of cycling cells and degeneration of late-/postmitotic neurons. Since False Morels are scavenged for food in Finland, Russia, Spain, and USA, research studies are underway in Western Europe and USA to determine if the practice is associated with sporadic ALS.

Keywords: 
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cycad seed, cycasin, gyromitrin, DNA damage, Guam, Finland, Russia, USA.
Spencer P.S. Consumption of unregulated food items (false morels) and risk for neurodegenerative disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Health Risk Analysis, 2020, no. 3, pp. 94–99. DOI: 10.21668/health.risk/2020.3.11.eng
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Received: 
20.07.2020
Accepted: 
18.08.2020
Published: 
30.09.2020

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