Neuroepidemiology

Our researchers examine many aspects of these diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, particularly Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and diabetic neuropathy.

Current Studies
Recent Publications

The Identification of Risk Factors for the Complex MS Phenotype

The principal goals of this study are to identify genetic and nongenetic risk factors for occurrence of MS and MS progression through whole genome scans of our previously collected and assessed MS case-control study population.
Funder: Nat. Inst. of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

The Epilepsy Phenome/Genome Project

The goals of this study are to better understand what causes epilepsy, why some families have several people with epilepsy, and how to better predict which anti-seizure medications (or no medication) will work best for an individual; for more information please visit www.epgp.org.
Funder: Nat. Inst. of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Principal Investigator: Hayward, Jean

Diagnostic Error in Dystonia

By using an ongoing study that identifies incident cases of primary dystonia in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Medical Care Plan, the goal of this new study is to investigate diagnostic pathways and describe the common misdiagnoses in primary dystonia.
Funder: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Principal Investigator: Van Den Eeden, Stephen

The RAMPART Study - Neurological Emergencies Treatment Trial

The primary objective of this study is to determine if the efficacy of intramuscular midazolam is not inferior to intravenous lorazepam by a prespecified, clinically unimportant, absolute difference in the prehospital treatment of status epilepticus.
Funder: Nat. Inst. of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Principal Investigator: Mulcahy, Beth

Do Clinical and Environment Characteristics at Parkinson's Analysis Diagnosis Predict Survival?

This project identifies clinical and environmental factors that are prognostic for survival in Parkinson's analysis.
Funder: Michael J. Fox
Principal Investigator: Van Den Eeden, Stephen

Methods for Estimating the Incidence and Prevalance of ALS in the U.S. Population

This is a multi-site effort to pilot surveillance methods that may be appropriate for creating an ALS registry.
Funder: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Principal Investigator: Van Den Eeden, Stephen

An Economic and Policy Analysis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Stimulant Drugs

This project aims to determine the extent to which individual characteristics (e.g., age, gender) and local area characteristics (economic, demographic, medical market and district level school policies) explain the individual level variation in total medical costs and psychostimulant utilization patterns for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Funder: National Institute of Mental Health
Principal Investigator: Ray, G. Thomas

Epidemiology of Dystonia in a Multi-ethnic Population

This study addresses the three major deficiencies in the current understanding of Primary Torsion Dystonia (PTD) based on incidence on a multi-ethnic population, examining the distribution of genetic determinants, and investigating environmental factors affecting disease expression on risk.
Funder: Nat. Inst. of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Principal Investigator: Van Den Eeden, Stephen

Acute Outcomes and Management of TIA with Carotid Disease

This study determines the short-term stroke risk and death among patients with an emergency department diagnosis of TIA and severe internal carotid artery (ICA) with those with TIA but no severe stenosis.
Funder: Nat. Inst. of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Principal Investigator: Sidney, Stephen

Genetic and Non-genetic Risk Factors in MS

This case-control study investigates potential genetic, enviromental and clinical determinants of the risk of developing multiple sclerosis and examines potential associations between these factors and disease severity/progression in MS.
Funder: Nat. Inst. of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Principal Investigator: Schaefer, Catherine

Causality assessment of serious neurologic adverse events following 2009 H1N1 vaccination

Williams, S. E.; Pahud, B. A.; Vellozzi, C.; Donofrio, P. D.; Dekker, C. L.; Halsey, N.; Klein, N. P.; Baxter, R. P.; Marchant, C. D.; Larussa, P. S.; Barnett, E. D.; Tokars, J. I.; McGeeney, B. E.; Sparks, R. C.; Aukes, L. L.; Jakob, K.; Coronel, S.; Sejvar, J. J.; Slade, B. A.; Edwards, K. M.;
Vaccine
Sep 2 2011
PubMed abstract »

Candidate Genes and Risk for Cerebral Palsy: a Population-Based Study

Wu, Y. W.; Croen, L. A.; Vanderwerf, A.; Gelfand, A. A.; Torres, A. R.;
Pediatr Res
Aug 18 2011
PubMed abstract »

Genetic risk and a primary role for cell-mediated immune mechanisms in multiple sclerosis

Sawcer, S.; Hellenthal, G.; Pirinen, M.; Spencer, C. C.; ...; Barcellos, L. F.; ...; Bernstein, A.; ...; Schaefer, C. A.; ...; Shen, L.; Simms-Acuna, B.; ...; Donnelly, P.; Compston, A.;
Nature 476 (7359): 214-9
Aug 11 2011
PubMed abstract »

Increased mid-gestational IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-5 in women giving birth to a child with autism: a case-control study

Goines, P. E.; Croen, L. A.; Braunschweig, D.; Yoshida, C. K.; Grether, J.; Hansen, R.; Kharrazi, M.; Ashwood, P.; Van de Water, J.;
Mol Autism 2 (1): 13
Aug 2 2011
PubMed abstract »

Interdisciplinary treatment for vestibular dysfunction: the effectiveness of mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and vestibular rehabilitation

Naber, C. M.; Water-Schmeder, O.; Bohrer, P. S.; Matonak, K.; Bernstein, A. L.; Merchant, M. A.;
145 (1): 117-24
Jul 2011
PubMed abstract »

Elevated BNP is Associated with Vasospasm-Independent Cerebral Infarction Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Taub, P. R.; Fields, J. D.; Wu, A. H.; Miss, J. C.; Lawton, M. T.; Smith, W. S.; Young, W. L.; Zaroff, J. G.; Ko, N. U.;
Neurocrit Care
Apr 9 2011
PubMed abstract »

Coffee, ADORA2A, and CYP1A2: the caffeine connection in Parkinson's disease

Popat, R. A.; Van Den Eeden, S. K.; Tanner, C. M.; Kamel, F.; Umbach, D. M.; Marder, K.; Mayeux, R.; Ritz, B.; Ross, G. W.; Petrovitch, H.; Topol, B.; McGuire, V.; Costello, S.; Manthripragada, A. D.; Southwick, A.; Myers, R. M.; Nelson, L. M.;
Eur J Neurol
Jan 31 2011
PubMed abstract »

Vitamin D, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Postpartum Multiple Sclerosis Relapses

Langer-Gould, A.; Huang, S.; Van Den Eeden, S. K.; Gupta, R.; Leimpeter, A. D.; Albers, K. B.; Horst, R.; Hollis, B.; Steinman, L.; Nelson, L. M.;
Arch Neurol
Nov 8 2010
PubMed abstract »

Heavy Smoking in Midlife and Long-term Risk of Alzheimer Disease and Vascular Dementia

Rusanen, M.; Kivipelto, M.; Quesenberry, C. P., Jr.; Zhou, J.; Whitmer, R. A.;
Arch Intern Med
Oct 25 2010
PubMed abstract »

Familial aggregation of Parkinson's disease in a multiethnic community-based case-control study

Shino, M. Y.; McGuire, V.; Van Den Eeden, S. K.; Tanner, C. M.; Popat, R.; Leimpeter, A.; Bernstein, A. L.; Nelson, L. M.;
Mov Disord
Sep 14 2010
PubMed abstract »