how long did lou gehrig live with als
Lou Gehrig lived with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for a little under two years after his formal diagnosis, and about two and a half to three years from the time his symptoms clearly began.
Quick Scoop: How long did Lou Gehrig live with ALS?
- Gehrig’s ALS symptoms were noticeable by mid‑1938, when his strength and coordination started to decline.
- He went to the Mayo Clinic in June 1939 and received a confirmed ALS diagnosis on June 19, 1939, his 36th birthday.
- Lou Gehrig died on June 2, 1941, at age 37, from complications of ALS.
So what does that mean in time?
- From diagnosis (June 1939) to death (June 1941): just under 2 years living with a confirmed ALS diagnosis.
- From clear symptom onset (mid‑1938) to death (June 1941): roughly 3 years of living with the disease’s effects, even though it wasn’t named as ALS until later.
For context, typical ALS survival today is about 2–4 years from diagnosis, so Gehrig’s course sadly fell close to what is still the average range.
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How long did Lou Gehrig live with ALS? Learn how many years he lived after his
ALS symptoms began and after his official diagnosis, plus how this compares to
typical ALS survival today.
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