What Is the Incidence of Lou Gehrig's Disease?

Lou Gehrig's Disease is also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. It is a progressive disease of the nervous system that attacks nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain, ultimately making it difficult to walk, move, eat or even breathe.

Incidence

• According to the ALS Association, approximately 15 new cases of Lou Gehrig's are diagnosed each day in the United States. They estimate that at any given time, at least 30,000 people suffer from the disease.

Age

• Lou Gehrig's Disease is commonly found in people between 40 and 70 years of age, although there are recorded cases of people getting it in their 20s and 30s. The average age when diagnosis is made is 55.

Gender

• Approximately 60 percent of people diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease are men. In older groups, the results are more evenly split between females and males.

Race

• The ALS Association reports that 93 percent of people diagnosed are of the Caucasian race.

Lifespan

• Approximately half the people suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease will live at least three years after diagnosis. Twenty percent of those diagnosed will survive five years or longer. Ten percent live 10 years or more.