I don't know the science, but in my experience it seems, lager yeast is more likely to experience autolysis, or the strong yeast cells eating the dead or weak yeast cells. I think it might have something to do with the yeast being bottom fermenting, so the acive cells sit next to the dead ones, where as ale yeast is top fermenting and settles out when done.
I have problems brewing lagers in that I am on a only brew on the weekends schedule, and if my beer doesn't comply with that schedule, it can spend 2 weeks or more in primary. You have to work your schedule around the lager, rather than working the lager around your schedule, they are less forgiving than ales.