Lou Gehrig's Disease

Lou Gehrig's Disease also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. The disease is named after Lou Gehrig, a Hall of Fame baseball player for the New York Yankees who was diagnosed with ALS in the 1930s.

Overview

ALS is characterized by stiff muscles, muscle twitching, and gradually worsening weakness due to muscles decreasing in size. This results in difficulty speaking, swallowing, and eventually breathing. The cause of ALS is not well understood, and efforts to find a cure have been largely unsuccessful.

Symptoms

The initial symptoms of ALS can be quite varied in different people. One person may experience tripping over carpet edges, another person may have trouble lifting a pen or a fork, and another person may notice changes in vocal pitch when speaking. ALS is typically a disease that involves a gradual onset.

Causes

The cause of ALS is not completely understood, but it is believed to involve both genetic and environmental factors. About 5–10% of cases are directly inherited from a person's parents. ALS is the most common type of motor neuron disease.

Diagnosis

ALS is diagnosed based on the signs and symptoms, with testing done to rule out other potential causes. Neuroimaging studies are usually normal in people with ALS.

Treatment

There is no known cure for ALS. Treatment aims to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life. This supportive care is best provided by multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals.

Prognosis

The average survival from onset to death is three to four years. Only 4% survive longer than 10 years, although rare cases survive 50 years or more.

Epidemiology

Every year, ALS is estimated to affect 2 people per 100,000 in the United States. ALS is responsible for two deaths per 100,000 people per year.

See also

• Motor neuron disease
• Neurodegenerative disorders
• Lou Gehrig

External links

• The ALS Association
• ALS Therapy Development Institute

NIH genetic and rare disease info

• NIH info on Lou Gehrig's Disease

Lou Gehrig's Disease is a rare disease.

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