Skip Navigation

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as called Lou Gehrig's, disease is a rapidly progressive, fatal neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscles.  The average life span from diagnosis is two to five years.  There is no cure.

Causes of ALS

Symptoms & Diagnosis
Most people develop ALS between the ages of 40 and 70 years old.
5,600
people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year.
The average survival time for ALS is 3 years but many survive longer.

ALS affects the muscles that control voluntary movements, such as:
Swallowing
Walking
Breathing
Carrying & Holding
Speaking
Treatment
No therapies currently exist to stop the progression of ALS, but multi-disciplinary treatment teams can help preserve the quality of life.
1 out of 10 ALS patients has familial ALS.
 
9 out of 10 cases are sporadic.
 
Causes
A mutation of the C9ORF72 gene is the most common genetic cause of ALS, accounting for almost half of all cases.
ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries and can affect anyone.
 
Join the Family - Get Involved

You can make a difference. Tell us your story. Get involved. Make a Gift.
The hope is in the science.