ReviewBrain : a journal of neurology2023
Physical activity as an exogenous risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a review of the evidence.
Review in Brain : a journal of neurology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 31 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
31 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 53 citations in OpenAlex.
- The differences in sex ratio between sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review.Journal of neurology · 2026Pooled it
- Identifying Modifiable Factors and Their Joint Effect on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Prospective Cohort Study in the UK Biobank.Brain and behavior · 2026Article
- Menopause and neurological disorders: a roadmap for research.Nature reviews. Neurology · 2026Review
- From Environment to Symptoms: Mapping Premorbid Risk Factors onto Clinical Features of ALS in a Patient-Reported Database in China.Neurology and therapy · 2026Article
- HSF-1 Regulates Autophagy to Govern Motor Function and Facilitate Toxic Protein Clearance in a C. elegans Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.Neuroscience bulletin · 2026Article
- Dysregulated lactate metabolism synergizes with ALS genetic risk factors to accelerate motor decline.PloS one · 2026Article
- Analysis and comparison of the trends in the burden of motor neuron disease in China and worldwide from 1990 to 2021.PloS one · 2026Article
- Environmental enrichment as a mitochondria-targeting systems strategy across neurodegenerative diseases and retinal dystrophies.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2026Review
- Dysregulated lactate metabolism synergizes with ALS genetic risk factors to accelerate motor decline.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2025Article
- Cutting-edge treatments in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: the role of molecular pathogenesis in targeted therapies.Stem cell research & therapy · 2025Review
- Review
- Extreme exercise in males is linked to mTOR signalling and onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Brain : a journal of neurology · 2025Article
- Programmable self-replicating JEV nanotherapeutics redefine RNA delivery in ALS.Communications biology · 2025Review
- Uncovering the Molecular Landscape of Physical Activity: Proteomic Insights from the UK Biobank.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2025Article
- Nutritional Interventions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: From Ketogenic Diet and Neuroprotective Nutrients to the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis Regulation.Molecular neurobiology · 2025Review
- Neural Metabolic Networks: Key Elements of Healthy Brain Function.Journal of neurochemistry · 2025Review
- Reversible reduction in brain myelin content upon marathon running.Nature metabolism · 2025Observational
- Exercises and Brain Stimulation to Preserve Function in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Neurology. Clinical practice · 2025Article
- Head Injury and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Population-Based Study from the National ALS Registry.Brain sciences · 2025Article
- Targeting ER stress in skeletal muscle through physical activity: a strategy for combating neurodegeneration-associated muscle decline.Frontiers in molecular neuroscience · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. The only established epidemiological risk factors for ALS are male sex and increasing age. The role of physical activity has been debated as an environmental risk factor. Over the last decade multiple studies have attempted to delineate the architecture of ALS. These have not yet established definite risk factors, often due to low-powered studies, lack of focus on at-risk genotypes and sub-optimal methodology. We have conducted a review of all the studies published between 2009 and December 2021. The free text search terms were [(motor neuron disease) OR (MND) OR (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) OR (ALS)] AND [(Exercise) or (Physical Activity) or (PA) or (sport)]. We identified common themes, for example soccer, head injury and the physiological mechanisms that differ in ALS patients. We have analysed the relevant, available studies (n = 93), highlighting the underlying reasons for any reported discrepancies. Overall, we have found that the more highly powered studies using validated exposure methodologies, linked strenuous, anaerobic physical activity as a risk factor for ALS. Future large-scale studies focusing on specific at-risk genotypes and physical activity should be conducted to confirm this finding. This will strengthen the evidence already surrounding strenuous physical activity as an environmental risk factor for ALS and allow advice to be given to at-risk family members. Increasing our understanding of the genetic-environmental interactions in the pathophysiology of ALS will allow for the possibility of developing preventative therapeutic approaches.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.