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Lou Gehrig's disease

American  

Lou Gehrig's disease British  
/ luː ˈɡɛrɪɡ /

noun

  1. another name for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Lou Gehrig's disease Scientific  
/ lo̅o̅gĕrĭgz /

Etymology

Origin of Lou Gehrig's disease

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Increased levels of klotho are thought to combat inflammation and improve cognition, and therapies to boost its production are being developed in the U.S. to target specific neurodegenerative ailments, such as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

Rui Cardoso, a portfolio manager at Beutel Goodman, recommends Japan’s Shionogi, a pharmaceutical company that is developing drugs for depression and ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Actor Eric Dane, who rose to fame as Dr. Mark Sloan on “Grey’s Anatomy,” died Thursday afternoon following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rare degenerative disease that causes progressive paralysis of the muscles.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

In 2022, she was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which took her ability to sing.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2025