For statements a through d below, select from the following lettered options the most likely criterion for causality. Each option can be used once, more than once, or not at all.
a. Biologic plausibility
b. Consistency of results
c. Correct temporal sequence
d. Presence of a dose-response relationship
e. Strength of association
A. At autopsy the pathologic lesions within brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease are shown to contain unusually high levels of aluminium.
ANSWER: ____
B. Five published case-control studies evaluating the same exposure and disease produce the following odds ratios:
1.4 (95% CI, 0.9- 2.4)
1.7 (95% CI, 1.3- 2.5)
2.4 (95% CI, 1.3- 4.6)
1.9 (95% CI, 1.5- 2.7)
2.0 (95% CI, 0.9- 5.4)
ANSWER: ___
C. In a case-control study evaluating occupational exposure to aluminium and risk of Alzheimer’s disease, relative to no exposure, the odds ratios are:
Low exposure= 1.3 (95% CI, 0.9-2.0)
Moderate exposure= 1.7 (95% CI, 1.4-2.3)
High exposure= 2.3 (95% CI, 2.0-2.9)
ANSWER: ___