Message from the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health

This content was archived on June 24, 2013.

ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) Awareness Month

June, 2011

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive and fatal disease that damages the nerve cells and neural pathways in the brain and spinal cord. ALS will affect control of voluntary muscle movement in the extremities as well as breathing, speaking, chewing and swallowing. ALS may also affect a person's mental abilities.

Researchers do not yet understand what causes ALS. It generally appears in adults between the ages of 45-65, but people as young as 16 can also develop the disease. ALS symptoms, and the order in which they occur, vary from one person to another. Most people will notice muscle weakness first, along with cramping and weakened reflexes in the arms and legs. It has been estimated that approximately 2,500 to 3,000 Canadians currently live with this disease.

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure and few effective treatments for ALS. The research community is hopeful that continued work will improve therapies and lead to a cure.

Since 2006-07, the Government of Canada, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, has invested close to $10 million in research on ALS. In addition, the Government has provided $15 million for a four-year population study of Canadians affected by neurological disorders, including ALS. This study is filling gaps in knowledge about rates of neurological conditions in Canada and their impacts on individuals, families, caregivers and the health care system.

As Minister of Health, I would like to recognize the ALS Society of Canada for investing in research towards a cure, building public awareness about ALS, and supporting those with the disease and the people who care for them.

Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
Government of Canada