Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is a subtype of motor neuron disease. It involves the progressive degeneration of the motor nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It commonly starts with signs such as weakness in a limb and muscle twitching, and often progresses rapidly. There is no known cure for ALS, and it is almost always fatal, typically within two to five years after diagnosis. However, about five percent of ALS sufferers survive 20 years or more. And, of course there is the notable example of Stephen Hawking who has survived more than 50 years since being diagnosed with ALS at the age of 21.
Symptoms and Effects of ALS
ALS progresses at different rates in different people. There are very few drugs used to slow the progress. Medical treatments are generally used to treat the symptoms and secondary conditions. Symptoms and effects of ALS can include:
- Cramping and twitching in the arms, shoulders, and/or tongue
- Difficulty performing daily activities
- Difficulty walking
- Increased clumsiness
- Tripping and falling
- Weakness in the feet, hands, legs, and ankles
- Progressive muscle weakness
- Inability to maintain good posture or hold the head up
- Slurred speech
- Loss of voice projection
- Emotional lability – uncontrolled outbursts of laughing or crying
- Fatigue
- Pains
- Problems with saliva and mucus
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Cognitive changes, including problems with decision-making and memory
- Frontotemporal dementia
ALS Risk Factors
The exact cause of ALS is not yet known. Genetics play a role in only a small percentage of ALS cases. Risk factors include:
- Being white
- Being male
- Environmental toxins
- Electrical injury
- Serving in the military
- Physical trauma, including head injuries
