About ALS

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurons making even the simplest movements - walking, talking, gesturing, swallowing - nearly impossible. When motor neurons die, they can no longer send messages to the muscles. This breakdown in sending nerve impulses to the muscles is what causes the weakness in the disease.

To date, no one knows what causes the death of the motor neurons in ALS or exactly how it occurs.

ALS can occur from 20-80 years of age. The most common age of onset is mid-50's. Approximately 30,000 people in the United States are living with the disease. It claims some 5,600 lives each year.