Researchers have found that Gulf War veterans develop the neurological disorder Lou Gehrig's disease three times more often than the rest of the population.

Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a rare neurodegenerative disorder which attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It leads to muscles weakness in the limbs and problems with speaking, swallowing and breathing. Usually it is diagnosed in people aged between 50 and 70 and is rare in younger people.

However, researchers at the University of Texas and at the Department for Veterans Affairs have identified 17 cases of ALS among Gulf W rans, none of whom had a family history of the disease. Eleven of them have died. Comparisons with the rest of the population show that Gulf War veterans have a three times higher risk of ALS ar vete than expected. It's possible that some unusual environmental exposure during the 1991 Gulf War has triggered the condition, but further research is needed to establish this. Two thirds of those with ALS had Gulf War syndrome - a collection of symptoms which have been attributed to nerve gas exposure, though this is still controversial.

Source

Neurology September 2003