A case-control study was performed in which the frequency of prior head injury was assessed in 78 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and 124 control subjects matched for age, sex, and race. A history of head injury with loss of consciousness was reported in 25.6% of patients and 5.3% and 14.6% of hospital and neighborhood controls, respectively. Matched-pair analysis of patients and hospital controls yielded an odds ratio of 4.50, which was significant (p less than 0.01). The ranges of times of occurrence of head injuries were similar in patients and controls, spanning several decades. The findings suggest a possible etiologic role for head injury in DAT.

A case-control study to assess factors of possible etiologic significance to dementia of the Alzheimer type was conducted with 78 male cases diagnosed in 1979-1982 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota and age-race-sex-matched hospital and neighborhood controls (14 of 16 autopsied cases were histopathologically confirmed). Information was obtained on variables relevant to vital, genetic, and immunologic hypotheses, and on possible occupational and environmental exposures, drug use, psychologic stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The only major difference between patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and controls was a significantly greater occurrence of antecedent head trauma in the patients (odds ratio = 4.50). This finding is consistent with the literature on posttraumatic dementia but its importance is presently unclear.

Based on the relevant rates, injury consequences, and potential risk factors identified, injuries to children and youth on farms represent a significant problem. Future analytic studies are essential to identify more specific risk factors that can serve as a basis for development of appropriate intervention efforts. Given the population at risk, and the opportunity for intervention in this unique occupational setting, many of these injuries may be readily amenable to prevention efforts.

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OBJECTIVES. The purpose of the study was to provide descriptive data and incidence data on adolescent work-related injuries and to determine whether such injuries are underreported to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. METHODS. The study consisted of a 1-year survey of 534 adolescent work-related injuries reported to the Department of Labor and Industry and a cross-sectional survey of 3312 public high school students from throughout Minnesota. The high school survey used an abbreviated questionnaire with a subset of items from the Department of Labor and Industry survey. RESULTS. Ninety-six percent of the injuries were strains and sprains, cuts and lacerations, burns, bruises and contusions, and fractures. There were 11 hospitalizations; 4 were for burns that occurred during work in restaurants. Eighty workers (15%) reported permanent impairment as a result of their injuries. It was estimated that there were 2268 reportable injuries to working adolescents in Minnesota during the study year. CONCLUSIONS. The most common serious injuries were injuries to the lower back and burns. The demographic characteristics of adolescents whose injuries were reported to the Department of Labor and Industry were similar to those of injured adolescent workers identified through the high school survey. The results suggest that there is substantial underreporting of adolescent work injuries.