Military veterans are known to have twice the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to the general population, but researchers are yet to understand why. The full story can be read here, at CNN.
ALS is a life-shortening condition that results in progressive loss of muscular and neurological function. It is caused by the breakdown of motor neurons, which connect the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. The loss of these neurons in people with ALS leads to a loss of voluntary muscle function, and people affected can lose the ability to speak, eat, and breathe unaided. Approximately 10% of people with ALS inherited the condition, while the other 90% of people developed it for often-unknown reasons. There is not currently a cure for the condition, but researchers are making progress and learning more about the disease and how it can be treated.
One feature of the disease that is yet to be understood is why people who have served in the U.S. military are at twice the risk of developing ALS compared to the general population. This is true for veterans who have served in any area of the military and during any time. The cause for this remains unknown, although researchers have put forward many theories, including that the disease is triggered by long-term physical and mental stress, genetic predispositions, and exposure to certain toxins.
Tim Hoyt is one of the people who were in the military and subsequently developed ALS. He was drafted for the Vietnam war when he was 19, although he spent his two years in Germany working on radio-electronics. He says,
“it was my arm that went first […] I’m still walking, though I’m weak.”
