Overview

• Researchers at the University of Michigan Pranger ALS Clinic combined patient residential histories with satellite data from the Cyanobacteria Assessment Network to quantify lifetime exposure to harmful algal blooms.
• Exposure pathways include inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact during recreational activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing, with private well users facing heightened risks.
• Scientists detected β-methylamino-L-alanine, a neurotoxin produced by cyanobacteria, in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of ALS patients, linking toxin accumulation to disease progression.
• The Midwest, characterized by extensive inland lakes and intensive agriculture, reports higher ALS incidence that researchers partly attribute to frequent cyanobacterial blooms.
• Supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the study highlights the need for targeted water quality and public health interventions.