US Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard veterans face higher rates of rare nerve disease ALS than other vets, study finds
A study published in the journal Neurology found that veterans of the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard have a 15% to 29% higher risk of developing ALS compared to Army veterans. While the study identifies a correlation with branch and rank, it does not pinpoint the specific environmental or service-related exposures causing the increased risk.
Why it matters
Identifying these health disparities is crucial for improving veteran healthcare and understanding the environmental factors that contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.
Air Force pilots and maintainers inspect an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Dylan McCrink Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard veterans had higher ALS rates than Army veterans. Male officers had a 64% higher ALS rate than enlisted veterans, a study found. The study points to possible service-related exposures but does not identify them. Veterans who served in the Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , or ALS, rates 15% to 29% higher than Army veterans, according to a new study. The study, published in the journal Neurology last month, analyzed records for nearly 10 million veterans receiving Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare between 2000 and 2024, including nearly 14,500 with an ALS diagnosis. Officers were found to face a 64% elevated risk of developing ALS, compared with their enlisted counterparts.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in