What Is The Life Expectancy Of Someone Diagnosed With ALS That Is Described As Being Progressed?

Posted on Wed, 14 Oct 2020

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 Answered on

Wed, 4 Jun 2025 Last reviewed on

Question : What is the life expectancy of someone diagnosed with ALS that is described as being progressed? I am heartbroken for my neighbor and friend who's just been diagnosed. She was 70 in late July and only started experiencing problems in early XXXXXXX of this year. Problems mostly just with balance. And within months, needed a walker and is almost completely immobile as I write this. And also, are there different types of ALS? Or is it all the same? She has always been in good health except for arthritis. No heart or diabetes issues, never a smoker, or drinker,not overweight, eats healthy.

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Poor outcone in terms of death within months

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

* As per my clinical the Amylotropic Lateral Sclerosis is a Neuromuscular disorder of various types.

* According to the hereditary pattern , it can be familial with multiple family members or sporadic as an isolated occurrence in family

* As per the clinical onset, it can be bulbar or spinal type.

* as per the pathology and physiology aspect, it attacks nerve cells and give rise to progressive muscular weakness.

* In the progressive or aggressive phase, there is rapid deterioration of multiple systems and death occurs within months

* Respiratory failure is usual cause of death in most cases

* There is no cure for the disease till date and she will be having supportive care only to lessen her suffering.

Regards.
Dr Bhagyesh ( MS Consultant Surgeon)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (9 hours later)

Thank you for that information, although it brings more heartache for all who love her. Are there any possibilities for a better outcome or exceptions to that reply?

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (18 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Hi
I do understand the agony of pain on side of relatives

* Many bitter facts of medical sciences are very harsh to digest.

* Only exceptions can be from immune response of patient to fight against the deadly outcome, nothing else

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (7 hours later)

Hi, thank you again for that. So to be clear, are you saying that it simply is one's immune system that controls how fast it progresses. And also, if it came on quickly, does it continue to progress quickly, or can it slow down and change course? Like get dormant for a while, or plateau?

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome for follow up.

* The diseases of neurology with rapid onset usually tends to show fast progress and plateau or decline is an unusual miracle of exception when age is elder group

* On the reverse, young patients do show many modalities of hopes via immune response from self as well as external modifying agents.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (21 hours later)

Thank you, all of this is hard to believe as it has all happened so quickly. I must add, although she has become unable to walk or get herself up from a chair, or bathe, or use the bathroom without assistance, and this happened in less than three months, she has not yet presented with any problem swallowing or with speech. is that not normally an early indication of this disease? And so then is that relevant to any different outcome or time frame?

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Hi
* Difficulty in swallowing may be later finding once bulbar muscles are involved, but that does not alter overall disease patho or outcomes to great extent .

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng