Lou Gehrig’s disease: A devastating neurological disease in the spotlight

These nerve cells control voluntary movements, such as walking, speaking, and swallowing. When these cells die, muscles lose their ability to function, leading to progressive paralysis.

Lou Gehrig’s disease is a rare disease, with an incidence of about 2 cases per 100,000 people. However, it has become highly publicized in recent years due to the mobilization of celebrities affected by the disease, such as Stephen Hawking and the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association.

Why this media coverage?

Several factors contribute to the growing interest in Lou Gehrig’s disease:

• The search for treatments and a cure: Lou Gehrig’s disease is an incurable disease, and current treatments only slow the progression of the disease. Much research is underway to find new treatments and a cure, and the media coverage helps raise awareness of the cause and funds for research.
• The impact on celebrities: The diagnosis of celebrities such as Stephen Hawking and Lou Gehrig brought the disease and its devastating effects to public attention. This helped raise awareness of the disease and the challenges faced by patients and their families.

• Awareness campaigns: Organizations such as the ALS Association and the ALS Foundation (France) run awareness campaigns to educate the public about the disease and raise funds for research. These campaigns have helped increase the visibility of the disease and generate public empathy.
• Social networks : Social media has played an important role in spreading information about Lou Gehrig’s disease and mobilizing the public to raise awareness of the disease and funds for research.

To learn more about Charcot’s disease:

• ALS Association: https://www.als.org/
• Inserm: https://presse.inserm.fr/cest-dans-lair/journee-mondiale-de-la-morbide-de-charcot/