MedLink Neurology Podcast is delighted to feature selected episodes from BrainWaves, courtesy of James E Siegler MD, its originator and host. BrainWaves is an academic audio podcast whose mission is to educate medical providers through clinical cases and topical reviews in neurology, medicine, and the humanities, and episodes originally aired from 2016 to 2021.   Originally released: February 22, 2018   Risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: family history, male sex, and serving in the US military? Dr. Colin Quinn shares his experience working with American veterans and summarizes the evidence for this unusual relationship.   Produced by James E Siegler. Music by Jon Watts, Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, Unheard Music Concepts, and The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Voiceover by Erika Mejia. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education and entertainment purposes only.   REFERENCES   Al-Chalabi A, Hardiman O. The epidemiology of ALS: a conspiracy of genes, environment and time. Nat Rev Neurol 2013;9(11):617-28. PMID 24126629 Haley RW. Excess incidence of ALS in young Gulf War veterans. Neurology 2003;61(6):750-6. PMID 14504316 Horner RD, Kamins KG, Feussner JR, et al. Occurrence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis among Gulf War veterans. Neurology 2003;61(6):742-9. Erratum in: Neurology 2003;61(9):1320. PMID 14504315 Kasarskis EJ, Lindquist JH, Coffman CJ, et al. Clinical aspects of ALS in Gulf War veterans. Amyotroph Lateral Scler 2009;10(1):35-41. PMID 18792848 Weisskopf MG, O'Reilly EJ, McCullough ML, et al. Prospective study of military service and mortality from ALS. Neurology 2005;64(1):32-7. PMID 15642900     We believe that the principles expressed or implied in the podcast remain valid, but certain details may be superseded by evolving knowledge since the episode’s original release date.