Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

3-1987

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major Professor

Robert H. Kirk

Committee Members

B. Wallace, J. Pursley, J. Lubar

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to discern whether a direct relationship existed between Alzheimer's disease incidence and the environmental aluminum level found in Maryville and Morristown, Tennessee. Maryville, being the site for U.S. southern operations of ALCOA, was chosen as the target community for this study, while Morristown represented the relative control community.

Yearly Alzheimer's disease frequency distributions were established for each of the two communities over the period from January 01, 1980 through December 31, 198A. This was accomplished by compiling returns from data sheets completed by cooperating facilities which kept records on Alzheimer's disease victims from each of the two communities during this period.

Aluminum concentrations in air, soil, and potable water samples were also established for each community. This was accomplished through measurements done by the State of Tennessee (air), Kenwill Incorporated of Maryville (soil), and Galbraith Laboratories Incorporated of Knoxville (potable water).

Evidence implicating the involvement of aluminum in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease was gathered from occupational health accounts, clinical dialysis studies, experimental animal models, and detailed pathological reports.

The analysis first consisted of determining yearly Alzheimer's disease incidence for each community by converting the yearly frequencies of the disease obtained for each community to yearly incidence values. The yearly incidence values for the two communities were then statistically tested using a one-tailed randomization test for two matched populations in order to discern whether Alzheimer's disease incidence in Maryville was higher than that in Morristown at the .05 level of significance.

The analysis also consisted of determining the environmental aluminum level in each of the two communities. Air, soil, and potable water concentration values for the two communities were statistically tested using a one-tailed randomization test for two independent samples. This was peformed in order to discern whether the environmental aluminum level in Maryville was higher than that in Morristown at the .01 level of significance.

After these primary results were acquired, they were analyzed in light of the evidence implicating the involvement of aluminum in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. This was done in order to discern whether a direct relationship existed between Alzheimer's disease incidence and the environmental aluminum level found in the two communities.

The findings of this study indicated that Maryville’s yearly Alzheimer's disease incidence was significantly higher than Morristown's as was its environmental aluminum level. Relative to the evidence implicating the involvement of aluminum in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. It was inferred that a direct relationship existed between Alzheimer's disease incidence and the environmental aluminum level found in the two communities.

Three major conclusions were formulated from the findings:

1. The incidence of Alzheimer's disease was higher in Maryville than in Morristown, Tennessee.

2. The environmental aluminum level was higher in Maryville than in Morristown, Tennessee.

3. A direct relationship existed between Alzheimer's disease incidence and the environmental aluminum level found in Maryville and Morristown, Tennessee.

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