What Is Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS)?

Lou Gehrig's Disease

Say: LOO geh-RIGZ dih-ZEEZE

Also called: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (say: ah-my-uh-TRO-fik LA-tuh-rul skluh-RO-sis), or ALS

Lou Gehrig's disease is a health problem where the muscles don’t work well. The disease was named after Lou Gehrig, a famous baseball player who was diagnosed with the condition in the 1930s. People who have Lou Gehrig’s disease need to take medicine and do special exercises. Scientists and doctors are looking for new and better treatments.