The Impact of Cardiovascular Risk
Factors on the Onset or Risk and
Progression of Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis
Bachelor thesis
Ineke van Bentum
Date: 19-07-2013
,Title: The Impact of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on the Onset or Risk and Progression of Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis
Name student: Ineke van Bentum
Studentnr. 3591360
Name supervisor: J.H. Veldink
Bachelor thesis
Bachelor Biomedical Sciences
Institute: University of Utrecht
Date: 19-07-2013
Illustration: the four cardiovascular risk factors (lipid profile, vascular modulation, blood glucose and
BMI) surrounding a fluorescence picture of a motor neuron. In the left corner, the picture of a human
muscle model can be found.
References (accessed on 20-06-2013)
http://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/Amyotrophic_Lateral_Sclerosis__Symptoms_and_Treatment_of_A
LS_a1379.html
http://thenewscifi.com/2011/06/29/our-science-fiction-ageblood-work/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blood_Glucose_Testing.JPG
http://www.medindia.net/health-screening-test/lipid-profile-screening.htm
http://www.conncad.com/gallery/single_cells.html
http://ukma.org.uk/bmi
Page | 1
, The impact of cardiovascular risk factors
on the onset or risk and progression of
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
van Bentum, I.W.
Affliation: Universiteit Utrecht (UU)
Discussed in this study of literature is the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and the
onset or risk and progression of amoytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a motor neuron disease in
which the lower and higher motor neuron systems are affected at the same time by degeneration of the
nerves within the brain. Cardiovascular risk factors such as an abnormal lipid profile or vascular
modulation, high blood glucose and BMI are thought to have an association with ALS. In this paper it
is concluded, based on a Pubmed search with various syntaxes and evaluation of the found papers, that
the relationship between each risk factor and ALS is controversial and results in contradictory findings
within various researches over the years. It is clear that the relationship is worth looking into in the
future and proper prospective studies on patients and controls are needed to clarify the association.
Summary: Based on a Pubmed literature search it can be concluded that the risk factors lipid profile,
vascular modulation, blood glucose and BMI have an unclear and contradictory association to ALS.
Page | 2
Factors on the Onset or Risk and
Progression of Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis
Bachelor thesis
Ineke van Bentum
Date: 19-07-2013
,Title: The Impact of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on the Onset or Risk and Progression of Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis
Name student: Ineke van Bentum
Studentnr. 3591360
Name supervisor: J.H. Veldink
Bachelor thesis
Bachelor Biomedical Sciences
Institute: University of Utrecht
Date: 19-07-2013
Illustration: the four cardiovascular risk factors (lipid profile, vascular modulation, blood glucose and
BMI) surrounding a fluorescence picture of a motor neuron. In the left corner, the picture of a human
muscle model can be found.
References (accessed on 20-06-2013)
http://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/Amyotrophic_Lateral_Sclerosis__Symptoms_and_Treatment_of_A
LS_a1379.html
http://thenewscifi.com/2011/06/29/our-science-fiction-ageblood-work/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blood_Glucose_Testing.JPG
http://www.medindia.net/health-screening-test/lipid-profile-screening.htm
http://www.conncad.com/gallery/single_cells.html
http://ukma.org.uk/bmi
Page | 1
, The impact of cardiovascular risk factors
on the onset or risk and progression of
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
van Bentum, I.W.
Affliation: Universiteit Utrecht (UU)
Discussed in this study of literature is the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and the
onset or risk and progression of amoytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a motor neuron disease in
which the lower and higher motor neuron systems are affected at the same time by degeneration of the
nerves within the brain. Cardiovascular risk factors such as an abnormal lipid profile or vascular
modulation, high blood glucose and BMI are thought to have an association with ALS. In this paper it
is concluded, based on a Pubmed search with various syntaxes and evaluation of the found papers, that
the relationship between each risk factor and ALS is controversial and results in contradictory findings
within various researches over the years. It is clear that the relationship is worth looking into in the
future and proper prospective studies on patients and controls are needed to clarify the association.
Summary: Based on a Pubmed literature search it can be concluded that the risk factors lipid profile,
vascular modulation, blood glucose and BMI have an unclear and contradictory association to ALS.
Page | 2
