ALS rates varied by military branch and rank among U.S. veterans
Original source
Association of Military Branch and Rank With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Incidence Among United States Veterans. (opens in a new tab)Compass summarised this from the study's abstract.
Study details
- Studied in
- Human
A study of more than 9.9 million U.S. veterans found that ALS rates differed by military branch and rank. Among men, rates were higher among Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard veterans than Army veterans, and lower among Marines. Officers had higher rates than enlisted personnel in both men and women, while longer service was associated with lower rates.
Why this matters
The findings may help researchers identify military exposures linked to ALS risk, particularly among younger veterans. They do not show that a particular branch, rank or exposure causes ALS, and they do not change treatment or prevention for veterans at this stage.
Limitations and context
This was an observational study using Veterans Health Administration records, so it found associations rather than proof of cause and effect. The analysis included U.S. veterans with qualifying health records and follow-up, and results may not apply to all service members or civilians. Further research is needed to identify the specific exposures that might explain the differences.