Former NFL running back Chris Johnson revealed on Monday that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Johnson, 40, who played for the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets, shared his diagnosis on ABC News' "Good Morning America," communicating through a speech-generating device that uses his own recorded voice.
"It’s continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined," Johnson stated via the device. "I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body. Just over a year ago, I was picking up my 7-year-old daughter so she’d make a wish with her birthday cake. Today, I couldn’t do that."
Johnson, who has four children, said there is no family history of ALS, and his doctors believe his case is sporadic, which accounts for about 90% of all ALS cases. Sporadic ALS occurs randomly without a known genetic cause or family history. Familial ALS, caused by inherited factors, makes up about 5% to 10% of cases.
"That’s one of the reasons this disease can be so shocking. It can happen to someone who never expected it," he added.
The first symptom Johnson noticed was a decrease in his grip strength. Initially, his wife, Brittany, suspected a less serious football-related issue, such as a pinched nerve.
Emerging Research on Football and ALS
Recent research suggests a potential link between playing professional football and an increased risk of developing ALS. A 2021 study examining 19,423 NFL athletes who began playing between 1960 and 2019 found that 38 were diagnosed with ALS and 28 died from the disease by July 2021. The study indicated that these rates were nearly four times higher than those observed in men who had not played in the NFL, with affected players typically diagnosed in their mid-30s. Athletes with longer careers appeared to be more susceptible.
Understanding ALS
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal condition that affects nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement in the brain and spinal cord. While it affects all genders and races, it is slightly more common in men. The typical age for diagnosis is between 40 and 70, though it can occur earlier.
Early symptoms can include slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and limb weakness. As the disease progresses, symptoms can worsen to include muscle stiffness, cramping, loss of motor control, severe fatigue, facial weakening, and difficulty breathing. Ultimately, ALS paralyzes the muscles necessary for movement, speech, eating, and breathing, with most patients succumbing to respiratory failure. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is typically three to five years, though many patients live longer, with some exceeding 10 or 20 years post-diagnosis.
Stephen Hawking, the renowned physicist, lived with ALS for over 50 years after his diagnosis.
Treatment and Awareness
There is currently no cure for ALS. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and may involve physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapies, as well as nutritional support. Medications approved by the FDA include riluzole, edaravone, and sodium phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol, which can help improve short-term survival and slow physical decline.
Ventilators may be used to assist with breathing difficulties. Famous campaigns, like the "Ice Bucket Challenge" in the summer of 2014, have significantly raised awareness and encouraged donations for ALS research.
Johnson stated that he is pursuing experimental treatments in his fight against the disease. The ALS Association estimates that approximately 30,000 Americans are affected by ALS, with notable figures like actor Eric Dane and physicist Stephen Hawking having also lived with the condition.