News Earth Gulf War vets face elevated ALS risk By Ben Harder October 21, 2003 at 12:38 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Two studies suggest that veterans of the 1991 Gulf War are at elevated risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, the fatal neurodegenerative condition rarely strikes before age 50. Researchers led by Ronnie D. Horner of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, Md.,