Researchers: Connection between military and ALS

TAMPA, Fla. - Matt June recently moved to Palm Harbor, because he wanted to take advantage of the new amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Clinic at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

The university held its grand opening for the clinic Wednesday at Health Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare.

Intended to be a state-of-the-art, one-stop-shop for ALS patients, the clinic was made possible in large part due to a $100,000 donation from businessman Stephen Blume.

The clinic will treat patients like June, who suffers from the fatal affliction also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, as well as researching a cure for ALS.

June was diagnosed in September of 2009. He already suffers from weakness in his hands and legs, and can not stand on his own without being off-balance.

Something else about June’s background, though, makes his ALS diagnosis far more interesting: June spent time in the military.

From 1990-94, June served as a military policeman, and was stationed in Massachusetts and Panama. He never saw combat.

But multiple independent studies, including one conducted at Harvard University, has found soldiers are more than twice as likely to develop ALS as non-soldiers.

The researchers found it did not make a difference whether the soldiers went to war; merely service in the military increased their risk.

Nancy Baily, president of the ALS Association of Florida, speculates the cause of the increased risk for soldiers could be physical exertion, physical trauma, environmental exposure or inoculations.

If researchers are able to pinpoint the cause, it could go a long way toward preventing the disease and finding a cure.

“It’s just one more clue in identifying why this terrible disease happens,” Baily said.

The Department of Defense does recognize the connection between ALS and military service. Because of that, the Department of Veterans Affairs gives veterans diagnosed with ALS access to monthly benefits.