Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

Dementia Slideshow Pictures Alzheimer's Disease Slideshow Pictures Brain Foods Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Fernando Dangond, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

View Full Profile

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Overview
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Causes
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Medications
• Surgery
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• Support Groups and Counseling
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Read more on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig Disease from Healthwise

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Overview

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disorder of the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary movements. It is sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease for the famous baseball player who died of the disease. The muscles become progressively weaker, and the condition eventually leads to paralysis and death.

ALS is one of a group of diseases known as motor neuron diseases. Neurons are nerve cells, and motor neurons are neurons that control movement.

• Movement occurs when neurons in the brain (upper motor neurons) send messages to neurons in the spinal cord (lower motor neurons). The lower motor neurons relay these messages via nerves to the specific muscles that carry out the movement.



• In some motor neuron diseases, only the upper motor neurons are affected, or only the lower motor neurons. In ALS, however, both upper and lower motor neurons are affected.
  
  
• The neurons die and stop sending messages to muscles. The muscles are unable to function without these messages and gradually become weaker. They waste away (atrophy) and twitch (fasciculate).
  
  
• Eventually all voluntary movement is lost, and muscles become paralyzed.

The loss of strength and control follows different patterns in different people.

• Some people lose control of one or both legs first. They may have trouble walking or running or become clumsy, tripping, or falling.
  
  
• Others notice a problem with a hand or arm first, having problems with simple tasks such as writing or buttoning a shirt.
  
  
• In some, speech or swallowing is the first thing affected.
  
  
• In every case, the weakness and disability spread to almost every part of the body.
  
  
• The diaphragm is a muscle under the lungs that partly controls their expansion as they take in air. When the chest muscles and diaphragm become too weak, the person is no longer able to breathe on his own. This is called respiratory failure and is by far the leading cause of death for people with ALS.
  
  
• Most people with ALS die within five years of the onset of symptoms.

In most cases, ALS does not affect a person's mental abilities, senses, reasoning, memory, or personality. Senses such as vision and touch are not lost. Most people retain their ability to move their eyes. Bowel and bladder control are not impaired.

ALS is diagnosed in about 5,000 people each year in the United States, where about 20,000 people are believed to have the condition. It affects all races and ethnic groups. The disease can occur at any age but is most common in people aged 40-60 years. Men are affected more often than women.

No cure is available for ALS. The effects of the disease are not reversible. Research is focused on finding the cause of the neuron degeneration and stopping it.