Article (Transfusion -- March 8, 2012): The United States Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Study: Evidence for Vector-borne Transmission of the Parasite That Causes Chagas Disease Among United States Blood Donors.
The ALS Association says the average lifespan of someone diagnosed with the condition is between two and five years. More than 50 percent make it past year three. Twenty percent make it past year five. From there, the number plummets. Less than 5 percent make it past two decades.
ALS does not affect mental functioning or the senses (such as seeing or hearing), and it is not contagious. Currently, there is no cure for this disease. ALS most commonly affects people of any racial or ethnic group between the ages of 40 and 70, although it can occur at a younger age. There are 2 main classifications of ALS: Sporadic. The most common form of ALS in the U.S., making up 90% to 95% of all cases.