What is the life expectancy for people with ALS?

Life expectancy for people with ALS varies greatly from person to person and can differ significantly from statistical averages. Without taking medical interventions into account—particularly the outcomes of nutritional and respiratory support—50% of all patients survive for three years, and 30% of those affected survive for five years. The onset of the disease is defined by the onset of paralysis (paresis) in the extremities, the trunk, or the tongue. The occurrence of muscle wasting (myatrophy) or muscle twitching (fasciculations), or the time of diagnosis, are not relevant for determining the duration of the disease in this context.