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Side Effects of Lou Gehrig's Disease

Lou Gehrig's Disease is named after a famous baseball player--a Hall of Fame first baseman with the New York Yankees--who died of the illness in 1941. The medical name for the disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or (ALS). It's a neurological disease that affects the muscles and can eventually lead to death.

  1. Significance

    • As of 2009, it was estimated that as many as 20,000 Americans have Lou Gehrig's Disease. In the United States, an estimated 5,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year.

    Symptoms

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, Lou Gehrig's Disease often begins with muscle twitching, slurred speech and weakness. Eventually, the disease affects the entire body.

    Effects

    • The disease often starts in the feet, hands or limbs. It then spreads to other parts of the body. As it spreads, muscles become weaker until they are eventually paralyzed.

    Considerations

    • According to the National Institute of Health, most people with Lou Gehrig's Disease retain their intelligence. However, there are studies that suggest decision-making and memory problems may be a side effect of the disease.

    Theories/Speculation

    • Researchers are still determining what causes Lou Gehrig's Disease. So far, some of the possibilities include genetics, a chemical imbalance in the brain and a problem with the individual's immune system.

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