Traumatic Brain Injury and Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Is there an association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and subsequent risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)?In this cohort study of 85 690 individuals 18 years or older with documented TBI and 257 070 age-, sex-, and area deprivation–matched comparators from the general population, risk of ALS was higher following TBI. However, the risk was time dependent, being highest in the 2 years immediately following TBI and attenuating thereafter to no increased risk compared with general population.These findings suggest that increased ALS risk following TBI may reflect reverse causality, with TBI in some individuals perhaps reflecting an early consequence of subclinical ALS.

Corresponding Author: William Stewart, MBChB, PhD, Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, 1345 Govan Rd, Glasgow G51 4TF, United Kingdom (william.stewart@glasgow.ac.uk).

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