What Really Killed Lou Gehrig?

Nearly 70 years after the famed Yankee's death from ALS, which was later named Lou Gehrig's disease, there are recent reports that are re-examining the way in which Lou Gehrig really died.

From World Report and U.S. News:

Brain Trauma Can Mimic Lou Gehrig's Disease

Lou Gehrig might not have had Lou Gehrig's disease. A new study suggests that repeated concussions from playing sports can cause a motor-neuron disorder with symptoms that mimic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the ailment more often known by the name of the baseball great who died nearly 70 years ago. Like many professional athletes then and now, Gehrig often played through injuries, which included concussions. When researchers examined the brains and spinal cords of 12 deceased athletes thought to have died of ALS—all had a history of multiple concussions—they found that the athletes may actually have had chronic traumatic encephalomyopathy, a degenerative brain condition linked to head trauma. It's likely that some people—perhaps even Gehrig—suffered from the condition but were diagnosed with ALS. Two telltale proteins distinguish CTE from ALS, the researchers say. Symptoms of both conditions include weakness or numbness in the limbs, uncontrollable muscle twitching, and gradual loss of movement. The findings, published Wednesday in the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, strengthen evidence about the long-term damage of traumatic head injuries, The Wall Street Journal reports.

This comes as a major shock to me and beloved Yankee fans who idolize and continue to remember Gherig. While people are researching this breaking news, take time out to research ALS further and know the signs so that we can combat this killer.

For more information on ALS, visit www. alsa.org

XOXO,

Whitney