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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Symptoms and Evaluation
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, after one of it's most famous victims, is a disease of middle to late life that results in the progressive degeneration of motor neurons (nerve cells) in select areas of the spinal cord. This, inturn, results in the progressive loss of voluntary motor functions. This disease is also referred to as motor neuron disease.
Symptoms of ALS
Symptoms can be variable. Usually they include difficulty walking, leg weakness or stiffness, clumsiness of the hands, slurred speech, and difficulty swallowing. There is deterioration of the arm and leg muscles with muscle fasciculations (contractions of the muscles). Walking will eventually become impossible and the upper extremity function will also become impossible.
Compromise of the muscles that assist in breathing is common and assisted mechanical ventilation is necessary in some cases.
Evaluation of ALS
Evaluation is by physical examination and nerve conduction studies. The cause of ALS is unknown and there remains no effective cure. The Neurologist is the expert in the diagnosis and management of this serious disorder.
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