ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

It’s a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, which causes progressive muscle weakness. As the disease progresses, people with ALS lose the ability to move, speak, swallow and breathe.

ALS Association Golden West Chapter Community Outreach Associate Janelle Webb says the average life expectancy of a person with ALS from diagnosis is two to five years.

She says ten percent of those diagnosed with ALS have a hereditary form of the disease. And those who have served in any branch of the military are diagnosed with the disease twice as often as the general population.

Webb along with surviving spouse and longtime participant and team captain in the Walk to Defeat ALS Loreen Zuccaro are the guests on our public affairs show “Collage” which airs this evening at seven. “Collage” may also be heard anytime on-line on www.Jazz885.org