- As of 2009, it was estimated that as many as 20,000 Americans have Lou Gehrig's Disease. In the United States, an estimated 5,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year.
- According to the Mayo Clinic, Lou Gehrig's Disease often begins with muscle twitching, slurred speech and weakness. Eventually, the disease affects the entire body.
- The disease often starts in the feet, hands or limbs. It then spreads to other parts of the body. As it spreads, muscles become weaker until they are eventually paralyzed.
- According to the National Institute of Health, most people with Lou Gehrig's Disease retain their intelligence. However, there are studies that suggest decision-making and memory problems may be a side effect of the disease.
- Researchers are still determining what causes Lou Gehrig's Disease. So far, some of the possibilities include genetics, a chemical imbalance in the brain and a problem with the individual's immune system.
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