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Early Birds Slash ALS Risk by 20%
26 Feb
Summary
- Waking early is associated with a 20% lower risk of developing ALS.
- Increased physical activity correlates with a 26% reduced risk of ALS.
- Adequate sleep duration, between six and eight hours, also lowers ALS risk.
A recent study suggests that adopting healthier lifestyle habits, such as early rising and regular physical activity, may lower the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This degenerative brain condition affects nerve cells, leading to muscle control loss and often resulting in paralysis and death.
The research, which tracked over 502,000 individuals for an average of 14 years, found that 'early birds' had a 20% reduced risk of ALS compared to 'night owls'. Participants classified as more physically active also experienced a 26% lower risk.
Additionally, the study observed that sleeping between six and eight hours per night was associated with a lower ALS risk than sleeping less or more. These findings, to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting on April 18-22, 2026, in Chicago, underscore the potential role of lifestyle in mitigating neurodegenerative disease risk.
