Is it true that the incidence of ALS is increasing?

In Germany, there are currently no reliable data on the incidence of ALS and its trends over time. However, a large study on trends in ALS incidence in the United States showed that (from the 1950s through the 1990s) there was a 30% increase in incidence. The study was conducted and published by an institute of epidemiology.

Epidemiology is a branch of medicine that scientifically examines the distribution, changes, and risks of diseases in population groups. Epidemiological studies therefore take into account factors affecting diagnostic accuracy (e.g., changes in diagnostic capabilities in the 1990s compared to the 1950s) as well as shifts in the attention paid to certain diagnoses. Thus, the described 30% increase in prevalence should be regarded as “adjusted figures” and considered relevant. Despite the lack of data in Germany on trends in ALS incidence, it can be assumed (by analogy with the United States) that the incidence of ALS has also increased in Germany over the past decades.