Does ALS always lead to death?

ALS can lead to death through two serious symptoms: malnutrition (caused by difficulty swallowing) or respiratory failure (caused by weakness of the respiratory muscles). Both factors can be addressed with medical technology (PEG and ventilator support) and are largely “manageable.”

Medical care involving a PEG tube and a ventilator is classified as a life-prolonging measure. Patients who receive treatment with a PEG tube or ventilator support may experience a significant prolongation of life. In individual cases, nutritional and ventilatory support can prolong life to such an extent that death is caused not by ALS but by another, additional, and usually common condition (e.g., cancer or cardiovascular disease).