Diagnostic differences between military veterans and non-veterans: data from the United States National ALS Registry

Affiliates

Jaime Raymond¹, Theodore Larson¹, Suraya Mohidul², Drake Martin-Greene³, Kirt Love⁴, Vincent Mehta⁵, James Wymer⁶, Ileana Howard^7-8, D. Kevin Horton¹, & Paul Mehta¹

1. Office of Innovation and Analytics, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
2. Hite Consulting Inc, Atlanta, GA, USA
3. VeteranHealthcare Advocate, San Diego, CA
4. Desert Storm Battle Registry, Crawford, TX, USA
5. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
6. Neuromuscular Neurology, University of FL, Gainesville, FL, USA
7. Rehabilitation Care Services, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, WA, USA
8. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of WA, Seattle, WA, USA

Journal

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration

Summary

This study from the National ALS Registry aims to compare clinical characteristics, diagnostic timing, and supportive care among male veterans and non-veterans with ALS. Using self-reported military and clinical survey data from 2014–2024, researchers matched 802 veterans with 802 non-veterans based on smoking history, birth year, head injury history, and region of residence. Veterans were older at diagnosis and reported a longer average time from symptom onset to diagnosis—20.8 months compared with 16.7 months. They were also more likely to report difficulty swallowing, use noninvasive breathing equipment, and receive wheelchairs or scooters earlier. These findings suggest that differences in healthcare access, care pathways, and disease recognition may influence the experiences of veterans with ALS.

Link to Paper

Find the paper here!