Multicenter PLS Cohort Study of Oxidative Stress and Disease Progression

Oxidative stress is often triggered by certain environmental exposures, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and psychological stress. Over the course of 36 months, participants in the study are followed through 4 research visits that are usually coordinated with clinic appointments. During these research visits patients undergo the usual physical and neurological examinations that take place during clinic. They are also asked to provide fasting blood and urine samples and to complete cognitive testing and other brief measures. At the time of the baseline research visit, the doctor will also collect a skin biopsy. A phone interview is scheduled within two weeks of each study visit. The baseline interview is typically 1-1.5 hours in duration, and covers a wide range of topics, including the patient™s occupational and residential histories, hobbies, physical activities, questions about how the patient has been feeling, and questions about any military experience the patient may have had.