Neurologist Dr. Elijah Stommel explains that he sees two newly diagnosed ALS patients each week and that each case is unique. In Andy’s case, the first indications of the disease appeared in his limbs. Andy had the genetic form of the disease and both of his siblings passed away from ALS.
Dr. Stommel explains that ALS isn’t as rare as people think and the risk of developing the disease is much the same as the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (which for middle-aged people is around one in 300). He also explains that there are similarities between ALS and Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease and if scientists could find a cure for one, then the cure for the others would be close behind.
