Learn about ALS

Living with ALS

Eventually most people with ALS are not able to stand or walk, get in or out of bed on their own, use their hands and arms, or communicate. In later stages of the disease, individuals have difficulty breathing as the muscles of the respiratory system weaken. Although ventilation support can ease problems with breathing and prolong survival, it does not affect the progression of ALS. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure, usually within three to five years from the onset of symptoms. However, about 10–20 percent of those individuals with ALS survive 10 or more years.