Heritage Catalog - Gehrig and ALS

[Snapolit1]

I was a bit disappointed to see Heritage’s recent catalog raising the “did Lou Gehrig really die of ALS” issue again. And some additional window dressing that “many in the medical community wonder” if the diagnosis of ALS was correct.

Yes he did. And no “many” don’t believe that.

A review of Gehrig medical records makes clear that Gehrig died of what we now call ALS. One researcher brought up the argument around 2010 I believe that maybe he died of traumatic brain injury and my understanding is that subsequent analysis and review by others has dismissed the idea that it wasn’t ALS.

What Gehrig’s demise has shined a light on is the notion that traumatic brain injury may be a risk factor for ALS. And it might be a significant risk factor. But that’s separate from the issue of what disease took his life.

That’s my understanding. I am not a doctor but that’s what the body of reported science on the issue I’ve seen suggests.