Takeaway
Cadmium, lead and zinc could play a role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis etiology.
Why this matters
An association between metals and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis risk has been proposed but not widely studied. This is the first comparison of metal levels before disease onset, minimizing reverse causation. The findings suggest that cadmium, lead and zinc play a role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis etiology, with cadmium possibly acting as an intermediary on the pathway between smoking and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.