Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues
• Genetics

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Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

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• Children
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a nervous system disease that attacks nerve cells called neurons in your brain and spinal cord. These neurons transmit messages from your brain and spinal cord to your voluntary muscles - the ones you can control, like in your arms and legs. At first, this causes mild muscle problems. Some people notice:

• Trouble walking or running
• Trouble writing
• Speech problems

Eventually, you lose your strength and cannot move. When muscles in your chest fail, you cannot breathe. A breathing machine can help, but most people with ALS die from respiratory failure.

The disease usually strikes between age 40 and 60. More men than women get it. No one knows what causes ALS. It can run in families, but usually it strikes at random. There is no cure. Medicines can relieve symptoms and, sometimes, prolong survival.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Start Here

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Also in Spanish
• What Is ALS? (ALS Association)

Symptoms

• ALS Symptoms and Diagnosis (ALS Association) Also in Spanish
• Stages of ALS (Muscular Dystrophy Association)

Diagnosis and Tests

• Diagnosis of ALS (Muscular Dystrophy Association)
• Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Who Gets ALS? (ALS Association)

Living With

• Assistance in Stages of ALS (Muscular Dystrophy Association)
• FYI: Breathing Difficulties (ALS Association)
• Medical Management of ALS (Muscular Dystrophy Association)
• Products to Aid in Daily Living (ALS Association)

Related Issues

• For Caregivers: Coping with Burnout (ALS Association)
• FYI: Oral Care for People Living with ALS (ALS Association)
• MDA Resources for Caregivers (Muscular Dystrophy Association)
• Military Veterans with ALS (ALS Association)

Genetics

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Genetic Testing for ALS (ALS Association)

Statistics and Research

• Advances in ALS: Unraveling Its Causes and Finding Treatments (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Phase 1/2a clinical trial in ALS with ropinirole, a drug candidate...
• Article: Health utilities and quality-adjusted life years for patients with amyotrophic lateral...
• Article: Respiratory Strength Training in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Multicenter,...
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Also in Spanish

Children

• Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Swallowing problems (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish