Lou Gehrig's disease is a cruel killer




Q: What is Lou Gehrig's disease?

A: In 1921 Lou Gehrig went to Columbia on a football scholarship. In the summers, however, he played semi-professional baseball under a fake name to avoid losing his football scholarship. He was caught and banned for the rest of his freshman year.

During his sophomore season, he also played baseball for Columbia. He was discovered by a Yankees' scout and signed to a contract. Once he took the field as a Yankee in 1925, he never left the field for 13 consecutive years. His consecutive games streak of 2,130 stood for years until it was recently broken by Cal Ripken Jr.

In 1938, Gehrig's batting average slipped below .300 for the first time in his career, and it was obvious to those around him that something was wrong. Not only did he lack speed with his bat, he also lacked his typical power.

He was examined by doctors at the Mayo Clinic and diagnosed with a neurological disorder that we today refer to as Lou Gehrig's disease. He would never play again. The Yankees would later honor him by having a special day of recognition before a game in 1939. It was at that moment the disease reached national prominence when Gehrig called himself "the luckiest man on the face of the earth" in front of a sold-out stadium.

Known in the medical literature as ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), Lou Gehrig's disease is a relentless, progressive neurological disease that causes the nerves which control motor function to slowly deteriorate, leading to muscle wasting and ultimately paralysis and death. The disease is relatively rare, with only 5,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It more commonly affects men over the age of 50. Women and younger persons can be stricken with the disease.

The first evidence of the disease is usually new onset of weakness noted in one of the arms or legs. The weakness is accompanied by noticeable loss of the muscle size. Eventually the weakness is equal to both arms and legs and goes on to involve the muscles involved in chewing and swallowing and movements of the face.

The cause of Lou Gehrig's disease is unknown. Some have speculated that there may be an association with exposures to fertilizers, chemical and heavy metals or animal hides. Others have suggested a link to viral infections or physical trauma as a cause.


A study is under way regarding 30 men who worked at an Air Force Base in the 1950s who have all come down with the disease, and men serving in the Gulf War in 1996 have been found to have an increased risk twice that of the normal risk.

ALS does seem to have a family inheritance of 5-10 percent of cases. Unfortunately there is no known cure and death is always the ultimate outcome. The disease is particularly cruel because the mind stays sharp as the patient slowly becomes disabled by the disease, unable to move or later speak, and typically the patient passes away within 2-5 years of diagnosis, usually from respiratory failure.

Gehrig passed away in 1941, finally succumbing to this terrible disease.

This column is written to discuss issues regarding sports, medicine and safety. It is not intended to serve as a replacement for treatment by your regular doctor. It is only designed to offer guidelines on the prevention, recognition and care of injuries and illness. Specific concerns should be discussed with your physician. Mail your questions to Gregory Smith, M.D., Sports Medicine, 1250 S. 18th Street, Suite 204, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. For appointments, call 261-8787 or visit the website, www.gsmithmd.com.






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