SynthesisActa neurologica Scandinavica2021
Military service and related risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Synthesis in Acta neurologica Scandinavica, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 36 citations in OpenAlex.
- Risk factors associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis based on the observational study: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2023Pooled it
- The Gut Microbiome in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Emerging Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential.Molecular neurobiology · 2026Review
- Exploring the ALS Multistep Model.Brain sciences · 2026Review
- Head trauma and environment progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: long-term data from the National ALS Registry.BMJ neurology open · 2026Article
- Investigating the Potential Roles of Environmental Exposures on the Pathology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis by Overlap Analysis.Neurotoxicity research · 2025Article
- The geographic association of multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Exosomes as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Agents in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Current Insights and Future Directions.Molecular neurobiology · 2025Review
- Head Injury and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Population-Based Study from the National ALS Registry.Brain sciences · 2025Article
- Excessive Urinary p75ecd is a Potential Indicator of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An American Cohort Study.Current neuropharmacology · 2025Article
- Rethinking ALS: Current understanding and emerging therapeutic strategies.AIMS neuroscience · 2025Review
- Advancements in Pharmacological Interventions and Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.Biomedicines · 2024Review
- Copper toxicity and deficiency: the vicious cycle at the core of protein aggregation in ALS.Frontiers in molecular neuroscience · 2024Review
- Pathophysiology of ion channels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Molecular brain · 2023Review
- Neuropathological Outcomes of Traumatic Brain Injury and Alcohol Use in Males and Females: Studies Using Pre-Clinical Rodent and Clinical Human Specimens.Journal of neurotrauma · 2023Article
- The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis exposome: recent advances and future directions.Nature reviews. Neurology · 2023Review
- Occupational history associates with ALS survival and onset segment.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration · 2023Article
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a neurodegenerative disorder poised for successful therapeutic translation.Nature reviews. Drug discovery · 2023Review
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Lancet (London, England) · 2022Review
- A perspective on persistent toxicants in veterans and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: identifying exposures determining higher ALS risk.Journal of neurology · 2022Review
- Demographics, clinical characteristics, and prognostic factors of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Midwest.Muscle & nerve · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is unknown, but occupations have been explored as a potential proxy measure of risk. There is a substantial body of literature connecting military service to ALS. We aimed to summarize and assess the quality of this evidence.
methodsSystematic review of the literature, including observational studies which explored one of the following exposures: general military service (army, air force, marines, or navy); or specific exposures associated with military service measured among military personnel. The outcome of interest was ALS incidence, which could include onset, diagnosis, or death from ALS.
resultsA total of 2642 articles were screened. Following exclusion, 19 articles remained for inclusion in the systematic review, including 1 meta-analysis and 18 original observational studies. Most studies were of moderate quality. In general, the relationship between military service was suggestive of an increased risk, particularly among Gulf War and WWII veterans. Exposure to pesticides (including Agent Orange) certain chemicals (exhaust, burning agents), heavy metals, and head trauma appeared to increase the risk of ALS among military personnel.
conclusionsThere is a possible association between military service and the subsequent development of ALS; however, the evidence was limited. Studies were generally hindered by small sample sizes and inadequate follow-up time. Future studies should endeavor to objectively measure specific exposures, or combinations thereof, associated with military service, as this will be of vital importance in implementing preventative strategies into military organizations.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.