We are carrying out a survey for neurodegenerative diseases from 2001 to 2018 and clarified the high prevalence of ALS and parkinsonism in Papua still now. The purpose is to clarify the association of clinical epidemiology with ecological and environmental changes in Papua.
During the survey from 2001 to 2018, 94 cases of ALS and/or parkinsonism were diagnosed within a population range of 11700 (2015). The 94 cases consisted of 37 possible-definite cases of ALS, 19 cases of overlapping possible, probable or definite ALS and parkinsonism, 33 cases of parkinsonism, 2 cases of Poliomyeloradiculitis、one case of Dopa responsive dystonia), and 2 cases of cerebellar degeneration.
It is significant that there are still many cases showing pure ALS and an overlap of ALS, parkinsonism and cognitive impairment in Papua, different from the recent situation in Guam and Kii. The changing patterns of decrease of ALS and increase of parkinsonism in Papua might be caused by change of environmental and socioeconomic factors and aging as well in Guam and Kii.　I participated and presented the survey results in International Workshop on neuro-degenerative diseases in Papua, Indonesia held by collaborative Universitas Cenderawasih. I exchanged the survey results with the community doctors, neurologists, community health researchers, and anthropologists. I also participated and exchanged the informations in the 59th annual meeting of the Japan neurology society. It is expected that etiology or risk factors of the neuro-degenerative diseases will be disclosed in association with environmental factors.