Ex-NFL Star Chris Johnson Announces ALS

ALS slowly destroys the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control movement. Over time, patients can no longer walk, speak, eat or breathe. Doctors told Johnson his case is "sporadic", which means it was not inherited from his family; about 90 percent of cases are like this. Scientists still do not know what causes the disease, but they are studying why many athletes, veterans and healthy men develop it. A 2021 study of more than 19,000 former NFL players found they were nearly four times more likely to get ALS than ordinary people. Researchers are now examining head injuries, smoking and contact with certain chemicals.

Johnson said he hoped his story would lead to earlier diagnosis and more research. "ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn't changed who I am," he said, adding that his mind is still sharp. He joins other well-known people who spoke out after their diagnoses, including the scientist Stephen Hawking, who lived with ALS for over fifty years. About 33,000 Americans have ALS today, and this number may pass 36,000 by 2030. For now, no treatment can stop the disease — doctors can only ease the symptoms.