ALS Overview
WHY IT MATTERS
Understanding ALS prevalence and prognosis helps patients and families prepare for disease progression and seek out emerging treatments that may extend survival or improve quality of life.
About 33,000 Americans currently have ALS, a disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and disability. Doctors face the difficult task of telling patients that ALS typically shortens life expectancy to 2-5 years on average, and there is no cure yet. However, treatment options are becoming available to help manage the disease.
About 33,000 people in the U.S. today are living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Clinicians suspecting or confirming an ALS diagnosis find themselves in an increasingly common position in the medical world today. They must tell their patient and families that an individual has a disease of progressive disability, likely to take their lives on average within 2 to 5 years, and for which there is not yet a curative treatment. The post ALS Overview appeared first on ALS News Today .