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.

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.

This is not true. As ALS progresses, some patients develop cognitive impairments.

10 tips for patients newly diagnosed with ALS.

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.

Read about six ALS therapies to improve quality of life. 

 

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.

U.S. veterans who fought in the Gulf War of 1990-1991 appear to be at an increased risk for ALS. Read more.

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.