Increase in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis age of onset:Analysis of cases originating in 2011-2020

The onset age of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been increasing, but recent trends remain unclear. This study examined changes in ALS onset age over the past decade. We analyzed 233 ALS patients diagnosed from 2011 to 2020 at Tokushima University Hospital. The Jonckheere-Terpstra test assessed the trend in onset age. We compared onset age between 2011-2015 (Group A) and 2016-2020 (Group B) using the Mann-Whitney U test. We also analyzed the annual proportion of patients with onset age ≥80 using Spearman's rank correlation. In Tokushima Prefecture, we evaluated annual increase rates of individuals aged ≥80 and ALS patients with onset age ≥80, using 2011 as baseline. Regression slopes were compared using a t test. Onset age showed a significant positive trend (p=0.04), and Group B had older onset age than Group A (p=0.048). The proportion of patients with onset age ≥80 increased significantly (ρ=0.69, p=0.03). No significant difference was found between regression slopes for the general elderly population and ALS patients with onset age ≥80 (p=0.49). These findings suggest that the onset age of ALS at Tokushima University Hospital has increased over the past decade. J. Med. Invest. 72 : 286-289, August, 2025.