Lou Gehrig's Disease is a nerve disease named after which person?

• A. Dr. Alois Alzheimer
• B. Dr. John Down
• C. Lou Gehrig
• D. Dr. James Parkinson

Answer: (C)

This question tests knowledge of eponyms in medical terms—the disease commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease is named after a real person. The best answer is Lou Gehrig because the illness, formally known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, gained that popular name after the famous baseball player Lou Gehrig was diagnosed and his struggle helped bring national attention to the condition. ALS describes a progressive loss of motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy, and Lou Gehrig’s public battle made the term familiar in everyday language.

Other names point to different diseases: Alzheimer's disease is named for Alois Alzheimer, Parkinson's disease for James Parkinson, and Down syndrome for John Langdon Down.