Who gets ALS?

Updated on

Who gets ALS?

Worldwide, around one to two people per 100,000 get diagnosed with ALS every year.

Risk factors for ALS include:

  • Age: You’re most likely to develop symptoms between ages 55 and 75.
  • Race and ethnicity: White people and non-Hispanics are most likely to get ALS.
  • Sex: Earlier in life, men are at higher risk than women, though researchers aren’t entirely sure why. But as people get older, the risk is about the same.

Military veterans may also be at higher risk. Researchers are not sure why this is. It may be because they got exposed to lead, pesticides and other toxins during their service.

Related posts