Occupational risk factors and Alzheimer's disease: a case-control study.

A case-control study was conducted to assess occupational exposure to organic solvents and lead as risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. All case subjects were diagnosed at a Veterans Administration Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts. Control subjects were selected from Massachusetts voter registration lists and matched by sex, year of birth, and town of residence. Information on occupational history was assessed by mailed questionnaire sent to the spouse or next of kin of the study subject. A total of 98 case and 162 control subjects were included in the matched analysis. No apparent association of increased risk of Alzheimer's disease was observed for ever having occupational exposure to organic solvents or lead.