ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in a person's brain and spinal cord. The cells that are affected are called motor neurons, these control a person muscle movement throughout their body. Eventually these neurons die because they are no longer receiving any signal and this leads to the person becoming paralyzed. Though paralyzed the person's mind is left untouched by the disease. There is no cure for ALS and it's cause is still unknown. Once diagnosed the average life span of a patient is about 2 to 5 years, however 20% of patients live over five years, some even past 10.
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