Study finds link between Gehrig's disease, Gulf vets

WASHINGTON -- Americans who served in the Gulf War were nearly twice as likely to develop Lou Gehrig's disease as other military personnel, the government reported Monday.

The Department of Veterans Affairs said it would immediately offer disability and survivor benefits to veterans with the disease who served in the Persian Gulf during the conflict a decade ago.

The research included nearly 2.5 million military personnel. Researchers don't know why these veterans were more likely to get sick. The results have not yet been reviewed by other scientists or published in an academic journal, and officials cautioned that they are preliminary.

About 5,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with ALS.