Abstract:
:In early 2012 deaths (all-cause mortality) in England and Wales showed an unexpected and unexplained increase which continued for 18 months before abating. The highest percentage increase in deaths was noted to be for neurological degenerations (mainly dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's). This study seeks to understand why increased deaths should focus on these conditions and if an unrecognized infectious outbreak could be implicated. Cause of death statistics for England and Wales were compared for 2012 versus 2011 as was the diagnosis for first outpatient appointment and inpatient admissions for these conditions. Deaths for dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's showed a 15% increase with associated age specificity. The increase could not be explained by changes in the coding relating to cause of death. The increase coincided with increased GP referral (as first outpatient attendance) and inpatient admission for a range of neurological conditions. These increases were also observed on previous occasions of a similar event where deaths peaked in 2003 and 2008. A cascade of debility leading to immobility and institutionalization along with specific immune impairments appears to render those suffering from neurological degenerations sensitive to infectious outbreaks and more specifically to the particular agent behind these events. These and other studies point to outbreaks of a previously uncharacterized agent with the outbreak peaking in 2003, 2008 and 2012 (and in other years prior to these dates). Cytomegalovirus is a potential candidate and the necessary research to test this hypothesis is outlined.
journal_name
Med Hypothesesjournal_title
Medical hypothesesauthors
Jones RP,Goldeck Ddoi
10.1016/j.mehy.2014.04.016subject
Has Abstractpub_date
2014-07-01 00:00:00pages
25-31issue
1eissn
0306-9877issn
1532-2777pii
S0306-9877(14)00165-0journal_volume
83pub_type
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journal_title:Medical hypotheses
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journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2007.06.011
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journal_title:Medical hypotheses
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更新日期:2007-01-01 00:00:00
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journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
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更新日期:2016-12-01 00:00:00
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journal_title:Medical hypotheses
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更新日期:2020-06-01 00:00:00
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journal_title:Medical hypotheses
pub_type: 杂志文章
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更新日期:1991-12-01 00:00:00
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journal_title:Medical hypotheses
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更新日期:2008-01-01 00:00:00
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journal_title:Medical hypotheses
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journal_title:Medical hypotheses
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journal_title:Medical hypotheses
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更新日期:1997-03-01 00:00:00
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更新日期:2020-12-01 00:00:00
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更新日期:2018-08-01 00:00:00
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journal_title:Medical hypotheses
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更新日期:2013-05-01 00:00:00