Gehrig Ever since Lou Gehrig developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), this deadly condition has been commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Some believe that ALS is more likely to strike athletes or the very fit. Columbia University neurologist Lewis P. Rowland recorded personal histories of 431 patients he examined between 1992 and 2002. He diagnosed 280 as having ALS; 38% of them had been varsity athletes. The other 151 had other neurological disorders, and only 26% of them had been varsity athletes. (Science News, September 28 [2002])

a) Is there evidence that ALS is more common among athletes?

b) What kind of study is this? How does that affect the inference you made in part a?