When Do People First Develop ALS?
ALS tends to develop in middle age, though there are some factors that may increase the risk of early onset.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare degenerative condition that affects your motor neurons.
This condition is sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after Lou Gehrig, a first baseman for the New York Yankees who famously developed the condition in 1939. At 36, Lou Gehrig was nearly two decades younger than the majority of people first diagnosed with ALS.
Although medical professionals today know more about ALS than those in 1939, there’s still a lot to learn. We don’t know what causes ALS in over 90% of cases , and there’s still no cure for this condition.
ALS can occur at any time, but most people are diagnosed when they’re between 40 and 70 years old. The average age at diagnosis is 55.
Generally, people with familial ALS (ALS that runs in their families) develop ALS symptoms earlier than people with sporadic ALS. Familial ALS is often diagnosed when people are in their late 40s or early 50s.
Once you do get to see the doctor, don’t be surprised if you’re rushed out of the exam room before you get all of your questions answered, according to healthcare staffing agency Staff Care. Studies show that 41% of ophthalmologists spend just 9 to 12 minutes with a patient, and 13- to 16-minute appointments are the norm for 40% of cardiologists, 37% of pediatricians, 35% of urologists, 35% of family physicians, 34% of obstetricians and gynecologists and 30% of otolaryngologists.
Sporadic ALS is often diagnosed in people in their late 50s or early 60s. Sporadic ALS is ALS that develops in a person who doesn’t have a family member with ALS. About 90% of all people with ALS have sporadic ALS.
ALS is more common in men than it is in women, but this only applies to younger people. After menopause, the risk of ALS becomes about equal.
| Average age for ALS diagnoses | Average age for familial ALS diagnoses | Average age for sporadic ALS diagnoses |
| 55 | Late 40s through early 50s | Late 50s through early 60s |
Can ALS be stopped early?
There are no treatments that can stop, reverse, or cure ALS. At this time, available treatments are only able to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. ALS is progressive and fatal.
Treatments and supportive care can slow down decline and can alleviate painful symptoms. Care teams can put together an individualized plan to provide services such as specialized equipment, speech and occupational therapies, meal planning, mental health care, and more to help people with ALS and their loved ones.
