title: Clinical epidemiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: The introduction of palliative therapies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) will alter the epidemiology of ALS as it is known now. Although incidence rates will remain unchanged in the near future, prevalence rates will likely increase dramatically. Better understanding of the age-specific presentation of motor neuron diseases worldwide will shed light on the vexing questions concerning the variable incidence rates in some countries and apparent incidence gradients in North America and Europe.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, William S. Middleton Memorial VA Medical Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015988:Cohort Effect; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000639:trends; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome