Psychological Effects of Lou Gehrig's Disease

Lou Gehrig’s disease is a neurological condition and it is not typically associated with psychological effects. However, some cases of Lou Gehrig’s disease may be linked to certain forms of dementia, anxiety, depression and memory loss.

Definition

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which may also be referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a terminal neurological disease characterized by muscle dysfunction and paralysis. Lou Gehrig was a famous baseball player who died of the disease in 1941.

Symptoms

• Lou Gehrig’s disease may begin with weakness in the legs, feet, and hands, muscle cramps, twitching in the arms, impaired speech and difficulty swallowing. As the disease progresses it may cause paralysis and negatively affect eating and breathing.

Dementia

• According to MayoClinic.com, those with Lou Gehrig’s disease may be at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and frontotemporal dementia, both of which are progressive forms of dementia characterized by severely impaired cognitive functioning.

Depression

• According to the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), Lou Gehrig’s disease is not typically associated with cognitive decline; therefore, a patient may be fully aware of the progression of his physical symptoms and experience depression and anxiety. According to the NINDS, some patients may display memory loss and flawed decision-making associated with their disease.

Prognosis

• There is no cure for Lou Gehrig’s disease. According to the ALS Association, the average life expectancy of a patient with Lou Gehrig’s disease is two to five years after being diagnosed.