Lou Gehrigs Disease

Lou Gehrigs Disease is another name for the condition formally called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It was named for the famous baseball player because he suffered from it and eventually died from complications of the disease.

ALS is a rare disease that had previously been absent from public awareness. However, the much publicized illness of Gehrig brought amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to public attention.

Around 1938, Gehrig began having trouble with baseball. The once powerful slugger began loosing strength and becoming clumsier. The disease eventually caused him to leave baseball and, after a thorough work-up, he was diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

After struggling with progressively worsening physical functioning, ALS finally claimed the life of Lou Gehrig in 1941. To the general public, the once virtually unknown disease was forever known most commonly as Lou Gehrig's disease.

For more information about ALS, return to the ALS section.