Motor Neuron Disease Mortality in the United States, 2010-2023: A demographic, geographic, and temporal analysis

Affiliates

Theresa Nair^1,2, Theodore Larson¹, Jaime Raymond¹, D Kevin Horton¹, Paul Mehta¹

1. Office of Innovation and Analytics, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2. Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

Journal

Neuroepidemiology

Summary

This study from the National ALS Registry examines motor neuron disease (MND) mortality in the United States from 2010–2023 by demographic characteristics, geography, and time. Using National Center for Health Statistics multiple-cause mortality data, the researchers identified 108,031 deaths associated with MND and calculated an overall age-adjusted mortality rate of 2.07 per 100,000 population. Mortality rates were higher among males, people aged 80 years and older, non-Hispanic individuals, White individuals, residents of rural counties, and those living in northern states. State-level rates ranged from 3.07 per 100,000 in Vermont to 1.41 in Hawaii. National MND mortality declined significantly over the study period, with rates decreasing from 2.25 per 100,000 in 2010 to 1.87 in 2023, and 33 states experienced significant declines between 2010–2016 and 2017–2023. The researchers note that further study is needed to determine whether declining mortality reflects fewer new MND cases or longer survival associated with earlier diagnosis, expanded treatment options, and increased access to care.

Link to Paper

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