When it comes to sporadic ALS, about 85% of cases that are not associated with an inherited genetic mutation, we know very little about what causes the onset of the disease. However, though the reasons remain unclear, some groups appear to face a higher risk. One of the most well-established high-risk groups in ALS is military veterans. Anyone who served in the military, regardless of where or how they served, appears to be roughly twice as likely to be diagnosed with ALS as the general population.

How do we Know Veterans are More Likely to Have ALS?

The connection between military service and ALS was first established more than 20 years ago. It came about from an investigation into several unexplained illnesses and symptoms experienced by soldiers who served in the Gulf War. Researchers studying this phenomenon discovered a large increase in the rate of ALS among these Gulf War veterans. Initially published in 2003, this study led the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to extend full benefits to Gulf War veterans for a disability related to their service.

However, it soon became apparent that this increase in the rate of sporadic ALS was not limited to veterans of a single war. In a 2005 paper, another group of researchers examined military health data going back to World War I. They found that all veterans consistently had a uniformly higher chance of an ALS diagnosis than average. This increased risk remained consistent regardless of the military branch in which they served, the time of their service, or whether they had served during wartime or at peace. 

Resources and Research to Support Veterans with ALS

After this paper, thanks to the dedicated efforts of ALS advocates, the military soon expanded service-related disability from Gulf War veterans to any former service members diagnosed with ALS. Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs operates several specialized ALS clinics nationwide. Veterans with ALS are also entitled to benefits such as disability compensation, home health care assistance, access to medical and adaptive equipment, and more. 

In addition to these benefits, advocates have encouraged the federal government to further support veterans with ALS by funding research about the disease. This led to the creation of initiatives such as the ALS Research Program (ALSRP) under the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). Since its founding in 2007, the ALSRP has provided over $200 million in grants to support a variety of projects aimed at better understanding ALS and developing treatments for the disease. 

Working to Shed Light on the Military Service-ALS Connection

At the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), we have been working to shed light on this connection between military service and ALS since its discovery. Early on, ALS TDI was a part of the effort to lobby for military funding for ALS research, playing a sizable role in the establishment of the ALSRP. Since then, we have received multiple grants from the program, most recently a 2022 grant to support our biomarker discovery efforts. Members of ALS TDI’s science team have also sat on the committee that evaluates projects from other institutions for ALSRP grants.

One of the major goals of our ALS Research Collaborative (ARC) study—the longest running natural history study in ALS—is to learn more about ALS risk factors, including military service. There are many veterans among the 2,000 people worldwide with ALS who have generously contributed their data to the study. In 2023, ARC researchers were awarded a $480,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control to support this work to identify and understand potential causes of elevated ALS risk in certain groups, including veterans. 

In 2025, ALS TDI announced the Champion Insights Study, in partnership with Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS and Answer ALS. Champion Insights aims to uncover critical genetic and metabolic factors that may help explain the significantly higher incidence of ALS among military service members, as well as other potentially high-risk groups. 

If you are a veteran living with ALS, your data could help us uncover new insights into the connection between ALS and military service. To learn more about the Champion Insights study and how you can enroll, click here.

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