Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neuromuscular disease in which motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord degenerate and die, resulting in muscle atrophy, paralysis, and eventually, death. Although onset of ALS is usually during mid-life, this disease knows no boundaries and can strike virtually anyone, cases having been recorded in patients as young as 12 and as old as 98. Baffling many in the medical community, progress in finding a cure has been slow, and already too late for the thousands who have succumbed to it.
The scientific name is Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but in the United States, it is also referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, named after Lou Gehrig, who played for the New York Yankees from 1925-1939. Born in 1903 in New York City as Henry Louis Gehrig, he was first baseman for the Yankees starting in 1925, and earned Most Valuable Player in 1927 and 1936. In 1934, Lou Gehrig achieved the Triple Crown, for top scores in batting, homeruns, and runs batted in. Diagnosed in 1939 with ALS, he retired that same year, after his loss of motor control became too severe for him to keep on playing. He died on June 2, 1941 at the age of 38, and by then, people all across The United States knew of his struggle with the terrible disease. Thus, ALS became known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.