Brain & Nervous System More Neurological Diseases Life Expectancy for Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) By Mark Stibich, PhD twitter linkedin Mark Stibich, PhD, FIDSA, is a behavior change expert with experience helping individuals make lasting lifestyle improvements. Learn about our editorial process Mark Stibich, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Sarah Rahal, MD on November 27, 2019 linkedin Sarah Rahal, MD, is a double board-certified adult and pediatric neurologist and headache medicine specialist. Learn about our Medical Review Board Sarah Rahal, MD on November 27, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Is ALS? Life Expectancy If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease, it is likely that you will have questions about the prognosis for the disease. ALS has a significant impact on life expectancy, but there are treatments that can slow the loss of physical function and may extend life. Verywell / Melissa Ling What Is ALS? ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It is a progressive disease that affects the motor neurons reaching from the brain to the spinal cord. These neurons control muscles throughout the body. Over time, the brain loses its ability to control muscle movement due to the death of these motor neurons. Life Expectancy For People With ALS According to the ALS Association, the average life expectancy of a person with ALS is two to five years from the time of diagnosis. However, it varies greatly: Over 50% of people with ALS live for more than three years. Twenty percent live five years or more. Ten percent live 10 or more years. Five percent will live for more than 20 years. Ways to Increase Life Expectancy While there is no cure for ALS or ways to stop the progression of the disease completely, there are some things you can do to improve life expectancy. These include: Medication Riluzole has been in use since 1995 and has been shown in randomized double-blind clinical trials to prolong life expectancy for approximately two to three months, although other, less rigorous studies have shown the drug to have a slightly greater effect. In addition, other drugs are used for symptom management that can help improve the quality of life and prolong functioning. Radicava (edaravone) was approved in 2017. In clinical trials, it lessened the decline in physical functioning. Noninvasive Ventilation The use of noninvasive ventilation (NEV) was shown to prolong survival between seven and 11 months, depending on how long it was used each day and different patient characteristics. The primary mode of NEV is positive-pressure ventilation, which is basically breathing through a mask that fits over the mouth and nose. Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastronomy (PEG) A feeding tube is placed into the stomach and leads out of the body through the abdominal wall. Although studies have failed to show a consistent impact on survival time, studies have shown this procedure to be a safe nutritional protocol in patients with a functional gastrointestinal system. Different doctors have different ideas on when the best time to do a PEG procedure and begin feeding this way. Managing Symptoms of ALS A Word From Verywell Advances have been made in recent years in the support and treatment for ALS. Educating yourself on treatment and care options for ALS can help you understand this difficult and complicated diagnosis. Talk to your doctor about what you can be done to help the person with ALS live more comfortably for as long as possible. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. ALS Association. Stages of ALS. Miller RG, Jackson CE, Kasarskis EJ, et al. Practice parameter update: the care of the patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: drug, nutritional, and respiratory therapies (an evidence-based review): report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology [published correction appears in Neurology. 2009 Dec 15;73(24):2134] [published correction appears in Neurology. 2010 Mar 2;74(9):781]. Neurology. 2009;73(15):1218–1226. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181bc0141 ALS Association. ALS Association applauds FDA for speedy approval of new ALS drug Radicava (edaravone). May 5, 2017. Rahnemai-Azar AA, Rahnemaiazar AA, Naghshizadian R, Kurtz A, Farkas DT. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: indications, technique, complications and management. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(24):7739–7751. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i24.7739 Additional Reading Pinto S, Carvalho MD. Breathing new life into treatment advances for respiratory failure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Neurodegenerative Disease Management. 2014;4(1):83-102. doi:10.2217/nmt.13.74.