To Pete Frates, this is the best time in history to have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“It’s kind of a weird thing to say, but just based on the fact that we’re getting better every day in terms of researching and finding things, there’s no better time to get diagnosed than now,” said Frates, whose doctors confirmed what he already knew when they gave the formal diagnosis in March. “That’s what keeps me going every day, that I know there are really smart, really great people out there doing great things, and that it’s 2012 and not 1939, when Lou Gehrig was diagnosed and made it public.”