May 9, 2011

expert reactions to new research on Motor Neurone Disease as published in Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry

Research suggested a link between ring finger length (determined by testosterone exposure in the womb) and the incidence of motor neurone disease.

Dr Brian Dickie, Director of Research Development at the Motor Neurone Disease Association, said:

“This simple, but carefully conducted study raises some interesting questions about how events occurring before birth may increase the risk of developing motor neuron disease later in life. It will be important to follow up on this research by replicating the study in a larger group of participants.

“But it’s important to remember that exposure to higher testosterone in the womb does not directly cause motor neuron disease. Many people with long ring fingers will never develop motor neuron disease as we believe there are numerous genetic and environmental factors that need to coincide in order to trigger the disease.”

Prof John Hardy, Professor of Neuroscience at the University College of London, said:

“I would be very sceptical about this: we know MND has many causes already and this association does not have much a priori reasoning behind it. As always, replication is the answer.”

Low index-to-ring finger length ratio in sporadic ALS supports prenatally defined motor neuronal vulnerability by Ammar Al-Chalaby et al., published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry on Monday 09 May 2011.