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  • Title: Did ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine evolve in the modern period? A paleopathologic study of ancient human skeletons in Japan.
    Author: Hukuda S, Inoue K, Nakai M, Katayama K.
    Journal: J Rheumatol; 2000 Nov; 27(11):2647-57. PubMed ID: 11093448.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To investigate the historical origins of ligamentous ossifications of the spine in Japan. METHODS: We studied skeletons of Jomonese of the period 5000-2300 years BP, of Japanese of the 17th-19th century Edo Period, and of Ainu of the 18th-20th century in Japan with special emphasis on spinal ligament ossifications as in the posterior longitudinal ligament. A comparison to our previous study on ancient Chinese skeletons was done. RESULTS: Cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) was the only ossification that increased significantly in prevalence in people of the near-modern period in comparison to the Neolithic gathering-hunting people. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic changes from a subsistence gathering-hunting economy to the near-modern livelihood depending on rice-eating and a diet high in vegetable protein are speculated to be responsible for the prevalence increase of cervical OPLL.
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