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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffALS risk factors may include:
- Heredity. Up to 10 percent of the people who have ALS inherited it from their parents. If you have this type of ALS, your children have a 50-50 chance of developing the disease.
- Age. ALS most commonly occurs in people between the ages of 40 and 60.
- Sex. Before the age of 65, more men than women develop ALS. This sex difference disappears after age 70.
- Geography. People living in Guam, West New Guinea and parts of Japan have an increased risk of developing ALS. Dietary factors may be to blame.
- Military service. Recent studies indicate that people who have served in the military are at higher risk of ALS.
References
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/detail_amyotrophiclateralsclerosis.htm. Accessed Sept. 18, 2008.
- Elman LB, et al. Clinical features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 18, 2008.
- Maragakis NJ, et al. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 18, 2008.
- McCluskey L. Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 18, 2008.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- ALS in the military: Unexpected consequences of military service. ALS Association. http://www.alsa.org/files/pdf/als_military_paper.pdf. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- Elman LB, et al. Diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- Galvez-Jimenez N, et al. Symptom-based management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- Choudry RB, et al. Pharmacologic treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- Why is exercise important? In: Everyday Life With ALS: A Practical Guide. Muscular Dystrophy Association. http://www.als-mda.org/publications/everydaylifeals/ch8/. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- Radunovic A, et al. Clinical care of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Lancet Neurology. 2007;6(10):913-925.
- Lyon M. Reasons for living with ALS. ALS Association. http://www.alsa.org/patient/living.cfm?CFID=1025297&CFTOKEN=f8c064e9dbbd397-7B4C955C-188B-2E62-8049290070F4DFA9. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- Good practice in the management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Clinical guidelines. An evidence-based review with good practice points. Umea, Sweden: EALSC Working Group. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. 2007;8:195-213.
- Crum BA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 21, 2008.
