Lou Gehrigs Disease

Lou Gehrig's Disease, medical term known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable disease of the muscles. As nerve cells die, the muscles they control stop acting and reacting correctly. Eventually, ALS weakens muscles, including muscles used for breathing, until they become paralyzed. Most people with ALS die of respiratory failure. ALS is diagnosed in about 5,000 people each year in the United States, where about 20,000 people are believed to have the condition.

Diagnosis

To determine if you have ALS, your doctor will perform an evaluation that includes a physical exam, medical history and lab tests such as blood and urine tests. An Electromyography (EMG) test, electrical studies of muscle, is very sensitive in detecting lower motor neuron disease. Other factors in determination include,

• spasticity
• abnormally brisk tendon reflexes
• an unusual flexing of the toes
• diminished fine motor coordination
• the loss of strength

In most cases, ALS does not affect a person's mental abilities, senses, reasoning, memory, or personality.

Causes and Risk Factors

The disease may be inherited, although no heredity pattern exists in the majority of ALS cases. 5-10% of ALS patients have a genetic or inherited component. Of those, 50% of their offspring are expected to have the disease. Most who develop ALS are between the ages of 40 and 70. Though, 'sporadic' ALS can affect anyone, anytime and both sexes and all races are affected in nearly equal numbers.

Lou Gehrig

Is the famed New York Yankee slugger whose death in 1941 was caused by this disorder.