ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a relatively rare disease, yet it is the most common adult-onset motor neuron disease. Nearly two in every 100,000 people develop ALS worldwide, and the majority of those diagnosed survive for just two to four years post diagnosis.¹ In 2015, 222,801 people were living with ALS, and researchers estimate this number will increase by 69 percent over the next two decades.² Symptoms of ALS include trouble swallowing — which can progress to respiratory failure — muscular atrophy and fatigue.³ Hereditary ALS accounts for 5–10 percent of cases, yet the majority of cases have no direct cause. Individuals over 60 years of age have a greater likelihood of developing ALS.⁴ Currently, there is no cure for ALS.⁵