Table 1.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of study participants

	ALS	CON	Statistical significance
Sample size	73	100
Age, mean (SD), years	49.8 (7.9)	49.8 (8.7)	t = 0.98, n.s
Sex (female/male)	33/40	57/43	χ2 = 1.9, n.s
Education level, mean (SD), years	9.0 (3.2)	8.9 (4.1)	t = -0.16, n.s
BMI, mean (SD)	22.4 (2.7)	22.9 (2.8)	t = -1.3, n.s
Bulbar onset (%)	23.5%	n.a
Disease duration, mean (SD), months	10.58 (5.86)	n.a
Progression rate, mean (SD), units/montha	0.71 (0.63)	n.a
Exposure to toxic substances (yes/no)b	15/58	n.a
Anxiety level, mean (SD)c	4.1 (5.2)	n.a
Depression level, mean (SD)d	7.2 (7.2)	n.a
ALSFRS-R, mean (SD)	42.0 (3.9)	n.a
ALSFRS-R_bulbar, mean (SD)e	10.8 (1.8)	n.a
ALSFRS-R_motor, mean (SD)f	19.1 (3.5)	n.a
ALSFRS-R_resp mean (SD)g	12 (0)	n.a

ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, CON healthy controls, ALSFRS-R Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale, n.a. not available, n.s not significant

^aCalculated as (48 – ALSFRS-R score)/time since disease onset

^bThe toxic substances included pesticides, heavy metals, and organic solvents

^cAnxiety level was evaluated by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale

^dDepression level was evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

^eBulbar score = the sum of ALSFRS-R questions 1–3 (maximum score of 12)

^fMotor score = the sum of ALSFRS-R questions 4–9 (maximum score of 24)

^gRespiratory score = the sum of ALSFRS-R questions 10–12 (maximum score of 12)