Lou Gehrig’s disease—also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—is devastating. It took the life of my classmate, Stephen Heywood, when he was just 37 years old. A young dad, Heywood did not get to watch his son grow up.
This disease does not affect the mind but it does affect the motor neurons (the cells in your brain responsible for movement), which is why people suffering from ALS progressively lose control of their muscles, becoming unable to walk, speak, swallow, and—eventually—breathe.
The cause of this brain disorder is not clear. According to ALS News Today, “genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors are all believed to play a role.” The environmental factors that are believed to contribute to the disease include a toxin found in seafood, several different pesticides, and exposure to radiation….