Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a fatal, neurodegenerative illness that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
• The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is two to five years from diagnosis.
• As the disease progresses, people with ALS lose the ability to walk, move, speak, swallow and, eventually, to breathe– all while the mind and senses continue to function.
• Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS. Every 90 minutes, someone loses their battle.
• ALS is not contagious and does not discriminate – it affects men and women of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and socioeconomic communities around the world.