5 Misconceptions About ALS You Might Find Interesting
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is sometimes known as Lou Gehrig disease after the baseball player who famously suffered from it. Although ALS is a more common disease than we would like it to be, there is still little known about it and many are unaware of the details of the condition.
MORE:Â Find out more about seven symptoms of ALS
That lack of knowledge can lead to misconceptions about ALS. To help educate the public, we’ve put together this list featuring five common misconceptions about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
ALS affects only the body.Â
This is not true. As ALS progresses, some patients develop cognitive impairments.
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Lyme disease is one of the main causes of ALS.Â
There are many similar symptoms between the conditions, which has led to this misconception but there is no evidence that ALS can be caused by Lyme disease or other infections.
ALS only affects old people.Â
While cases of ALS are most common in 40- to 70-year-olds, this statement is not true — young people can also be diagnosed with this condition.
ALS genetics is only relevant for hereditary cases.Â
Although having ALS in the family may increase your risk of developing the condition, it can be caused by genetic mutations even if there is no family history of the disease.
MORE: 10 tips for patients newly diagnosed with ALS
ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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