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COVID-19 and correlation with ALS symptoms
Just curious if anyone has read or heard of any correlation with ALS symptoms and those who’ve been exposed to COVID.
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23 Replies
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I haven’t heard of this yet… but we are so mired in COVID prevention & treatment arguments, that I don’t think anyone is yet looking at a correlation between these two diseases.
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Hello! I’m new here. My name is Kim Russell and for a while I truly thought Covid had given me long lasting problems. I had it in Dec of 21. A few days after I quit running fever and tested negative I wound up having these episodes that were kind of like seizures. I stayed 4 days in the hospital starting Christmas Eve while they ran all sorts of tests and couldn’t find anything. Anyway, after all that I never seemed to recover my energy and was talking different and walking much slower. When I didn’t fully recover I saw my PCP and she ordered a nerve study which showed damage in my legs, back and arms. She referred me to a neurologist and it was there that the doctor asked us to think back before Covid, was there anything that happened that we might have excused as getting older, being out of shape. Sure enough back in 20 I started having trouble taking lids off of jars. By the time we moved in June 21 I was of little help moving boxes. I would pack them but not pick them up. That made us think Covid didn’t cause my problems. In September of 22 I received the ALS diagnosis. While I know Covid didn’t cause it I firmly believe it accelerated the disease.
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Kim, your doctor was correct in asking you to think back further than your covid episode. I’m glad you got the help you needed.
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Hello! I’m new here. My name is Kim Russell and for a while I truly thought Covid had given me long lasting problems. I had it in Dec of 21. A few days after I quit running fever and tested negative I wound up having these episodes that were kind of like seizures. I stayed 4 days in the hospital starting Christmas Eve while they ran all sorts of tests and couldn’t find anything. Anyway, after all that I never seemed to recover my energy and was talking different and walking much slower. When I didn’t fully recover I saw my PCP and she ordered a nerve study which showed damage in my legs, back and arms. She referred me to a neurologist and it was there that the doctor asked us to think back before Covid, was there anything that happened that we might have excused as getting older, being out of shape. Sure enough back in 20 I started having trouble taking lids off of jars. By the time we moved in June 21 I was of little help moving boxes. I would pack them but not pick them up. That made us think Covid didn’t cause my problems. In September of 22 I received the ALS diagnosis. While I know Covid didn’t cause it I firmly believe it accelerated the disease.
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The World Health Organization has released that there is a correlation with multiple sclerosis and vaccine and some people.
With that I think it’s only a small jump to realize that the vaccine may have triggered some people with ALS. Although at the time they’re only saying multiple sclerosis.
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Bill, I read through the study you mentioned and the conclusions were:
“…this study showed that there were significant correlations between the following risk factors and developing MS post-COVID-19 vaccinations: Pfizer vaccine, low serum level of vitamin D, positive EBNA1-IgG, and family history of MS.”
So, the correlation was the brand of vaccine, low vitamin D, and having a family history of MS.
I think we have to be careful of making those “small jumps” of assumptions that the covid vaccine triggers ALS and look deeper into the patient’s health history.
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I did not read the study. I was shocked that there was a correlation with the shot and MS. Also with heart issues as well. Unfortunately this is the world we live in. Could there be a correlation to ALS or Parkinson’s or other neurologic issues? I think yes.
I got the jab willingly and happily knowing there are risks. I don’t think it was the cause for us. Honestly I think it was a combination of factors such as industrial toxins.
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Dagmar,
I actually think that the study has each of them as separate corrections (i.e., they are all independent risk factors) rather than having them all combined into one risk factor.
In the text of the article (not the conclusions) it mentions the correlation for each factor separately, and that they are each independent factors:
“This study showed that there were significant correlations between the following risk factors and developing MS post-COVID-19 vaccination using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis: Pfizer vaccine (P value 0.040), low serum level of vitamin D (P value 0.015), Positive EBNA1-IgG (P value 0.027), and family history of MS (P value 0.043). These risk factors can be used as significant independent predictors for developing MS post-COVID-19 vaccinations (Table <span class=”figpopup-sensitive-area”>(Table3</span> and Figure <span class=”figpopup-sensitive-area”>Figure1</span>).”
So, the statistically significant correlations were with the brand of vaccine, low vitamin D, and having a family history of MS. But they were all independent, so each of them were risk factors by themselves, not when all combined together (which was not discussed in the analysis). And, surprising to me, the family history of MS was the one with the highest P value. (Lower P values are better for rejecting the null hypothesis.)
But I do agree with you that we have to be careful of making those “small jumps” of assumptions that the covid vaccine triggers ALS and look deeper into each patient’s health history.
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Nice explanation Howard!
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Nice explanation Howard!
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Hey Guys,
This topic continues to come to the forefront. I am 80 years old and was diagnosed with ALS in December of 2022.
I am convinced the Covid vaccine ( Moderna) has triggered my condition. While perhaps coincidental, my symptoms developed shortly after my second shot and intensified after my first booster.
This is not intended to be a political statement but strictly my point of view.
Respectfully,
Henry-
They are linking adverse effects with the jab. I’m not ruling it out.
MS is a known adverse effects including heart issues among others.
Time will tell
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Bill, please check out Howard’s excellent response located above.
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My history is very much like Henry’s. I first noticed speech problems after receiving the first two Covid vaccinations (Moderna) in the summer of 2021. (I never had Covid). Symptoms slowly progressed to swallowing difficulties and drooling. I attributed these to aging (I am 77). After I got the first booster in December of 2021 the symptoms rapidly progressed, so I sought medical advice. I went through lots of test with various doctors ruling out lots of things but no diagnosis until January2023! I have Bulbar onset ALS. I now have a PEG tube and my speech is not understandable, but my arms and legs work fine. I really think the Covid vaccinations caused or contributed to my ALS. Also I find very little information specific to Bulbar ALS and wonder if that isn’t why they had such a hard time diagnosing my problem. I am impressed with the support of the whole ALS community.
Lois
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Being exposed to any viral infection can cause post- viral syndrome. Getting Coved can cause long Covid Syndrome. There might be correlation between any vaccine and any disease but correlation is not the same as causation.
Also, since MS is an autoimmune disease but ALS is not, I don’t see any scientific reason to think getting vaccinated would be suspect.
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Dagmar and Team
Ive had my Als and seizures prior to receiving Pfizer Injections 1 and 2
But what happened after that seems very mysterious. Approximately 2 years my weight went up 17 pounds in 3 weeks and blood pressure previously was normal Then the top number 200 over 112. I was rushed to the hospital and had to have a pericardial efusion. Doctors said i was saved by my high blood pressure. Doctors said i would have been dead within 24 to 36 hours. I am most thankful for my wife is a nurse and there is a God who allowed me to continue my fight for us
l7
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John, thank you for sharing! That sounds absolutely frightening! Your wife is definitely a blessing. I’m so happy she was there and you received the medical attention you needed. Your contributions on the forum are greatly appreciated!!
Forum members,
Covid is still such a hot and political topic in our society. We are told to “follow the science” and the other side says it’s all a way to control “us.” At one time I heard that “they” were injecting people with a tracking devices in the vaccines. Heck, I heard all kinds of wild and outrageous claims. At least many claims seemed outrageous to me at that time.
The most important thing, in my opinion, is to research, ask questions and have conversations about the vaccine, ALS (anything) and make YOUR choices based on what you believe. Along with that, it is important, no, it is vital to respect one another. I think we do a great job of that on the forums. It’s perfectly fine to hold a different opinion than anyone else on the forum, even with us moderators!! Just state your opinion, back it up with facts and references (if appropriate) and then you are sharing quality information. That helps us all learn and grow. I don’t have to agree with everything another person believes to learn from them. Try to keep an open mind, and see things from other points of view.
The other thing that I believe is imperative to understand is, You know your body better than anyone!! We’ve heard that over and over again! If you had initial symptoms right after a vaccine, but you do not have scientific evidence that the two incidents are related, there is no way that you cannot consider the possibility that the two events are related. That is human nature. Could it be coincidence? Well of course it could, but again we would need conclusive evidence to confirm. There have been plenty of times in our (world’s) history that the unthinkable has been done and we, the public, have only found out decades or more afterwards.
So, I applaud this discussion and I look forward to learning more and more from each of you.
Amanda
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Thank you Amanda for this excellent explanation.
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Just sharing my husband’s experience too. His respiratory symptoms started shortly after his first Moderna shot. He then started slurring after his second jab. He got the diagnosis a couple of months later.
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Hello my name is Lisa I was diagnosed with ALS in January 2023 but symptoms started in May 2022 only 11 days after my first Moderna booster
I know there is still a lot of political views surrounding this topic and I am the least political person but I went from being fully functional at 55 working and active to being in a wheelchair and living with my son a year later
I do believe there is a correlation -
Hi, I developed moderate dysarthria within 2 weeks after completing the first round of the Moderna Covid vaccine. My ALS diagnosis was offered 5 months later in October 2021. Can’t ignore the timeline, but I continued to get the next 2 boosters as recommended by medical professionals. At this time I’ve decided to stop Covid vaccines and I’m detoxing for metals and other environmental contaminants according to protocols described on healingals.org. Homeopathic doctors associated with Healing ALS say I can detoxify my body of the vaccine. Meanwhile, my bulbar symptoms have continued to worsen, and I’ve tested positive for ATXN2 expansion, a possible genetic factor. I’m taking the 3 Rs, as well as BIIB105, a clinical trial drug from Biogen where I’m presently in the open label stage. All medical professionals say there isn’t enough data to support a connection with the Covid vaccine. Hopefully, I’ll live long enough to rule this out as a cause for my ALS.
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Connie, my wife and I received our Covid booster in late September 2021. Shortly thereafter, Connie start to have difficulty with balance, speech, and walking. We visited multiple neurologist between November and late February 2022 without a diagnosis of her condition. After being admitted to a medical center specializing in neurological disorders, was she diagnosed with ALS in March 2022. She passed away 6 weeks later. Our primary care physician hypothesized that the Covid vaccine did not cause the ALS, but may have accelerated its progression. I personally do not believe the vaccine caused her ALS but it may have contributed to it rapid progression.
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Don’t know if this is the right place.
My partner was in the Air Force in Hawaii as a base medic for a short time in the 60s with no active service or chemicals.. in 2022 he had the final Covid booster , the third Moderna, Soon after he started having back and leg aches and balance issues. After many MRIs and neuro tests the neurologist thought it had to be in the neck spinal region.
He had neck surgery and after a month of rehab, he did not get better from the aches etc that resulted in the spinal diagnosis. So more neuros who sent him to a movement clinic who finally this .February diagnosed ALS. The disease progressed very quickly and now he has lost all motor function, can’t eat or speak. His breathing was no longer helped by the Bipap and today he is having a tracheotomy and ventilator to survive. So in about a year he went from being fit to nearly dead. It is well known that Covid and vaccines can result in various illnesses . The reason there is little research seems to be that serious illnesses are so rare, they do not activate statistical notice,
What bothered me was why all service men who served in any capacity, anywhere for more than 90 days were considered disabled from ALS. No questions asked! And got incredible benefits from the VA.
So I thought what affects all service people that could cause the VA to give benefits to all service people regardless of their type of service or location? The one common thing is multiple and various vaccinations. I was feeling that is possible, as a friend told me her 23 year old Marne husband thirty years ago got als after a series of vaccinations before deployment to Guam. He was a strong young marine with no health issues. He never made it to Guam due to the als onset. He lasted five years..
So I am not saying Covid or vaccines cause als, but they could be a trigger for susceptible individuals?
Just my thoughts.
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