Every 90 minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with ALS.

ALS is a neurological disease that affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement (the muscles we have conscious control over). The disease is progressive, meaning the symptoms get worse over time. Individuals affected lose their strength and the ability to control voluntary muscle movements, which include speaking, eating, mobility, and even breathing. 

Although the disease can strike at any age, symptoms most commonly develop between the ages of 55 and 75. For unknown reasons, men are more likely than women to develop ALS. The life expectancy of those affected is usually 3 to 5 years from when the symptoms first appear. However, about 10 percent of people with ALS survive for 10 or more years.

ALS is an uncommon disorder, though as the population ages, its occurrence is increasing. The worldwide number of people living with ALS is expected to rise more than 40% in the next decade. For all of these reasons and more, there is an urgent need to move fast to find ALS therapies.

Currently, a severe deficit exists in funding which is needed to identify and understand the cellular mechanisms and risk factors of ALS. By understanding the mechanisms that occur on a cellular level with ALS, scientists can identify exactly what is causing the motor neurons to degenerate, which dictates the approach used in developing effective treatments. 

There is a great need for funding to support the research of the cause of ALS. Please join us in helping to fund research that will make ALS a thing of the past.