Suspected autoimmune disorders and left-handedness: evidence from individuals with diabetes. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Neuropsychologia. 1987;25(2):367-74. doi: 10.1016/0028-3932(87)90025-x.

Abstract

This study tested the theory that left-handedness is associated with certain disorders that may have an autoimmune aetiology. To accomplish this, we compared the handedness patterns of people with either Type I or Type II diabetes, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis with a normal control group. Consistent with earlier findings, a significantly higher incidence of left-handedness was observed in people with either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. In addition, there was evidence that males with Type I diabetes were more likely to be left-handed than males with Type II diabetes.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Autoimmune Diseases / psychology*
  • Child
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / psychology*
  • Crohn Disease / psychology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / psychology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / psychology*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk
  • Sex Factors