|  | Conditions Treatments | Neurological Disorders

Facts About ALS

The ALS Association describes Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as a neurodegenerative disease that affects the upper and lower neutrons by causing brain and spinal cord degeneration. It is also called Lou Gehrig's disease, after the famous baseball player.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of ALS include muscle weakness and cramping in the limbs, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and impairment of the use of one's arms and legs.

    Prevention/Solution

    • According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), most treatment relieves symptoms and improves quality of life. The FDA has approved the drug Riluzole, used to help patients who have difficulty swallowing.

    Size

    • At least 30,000 suffer from ALS in the United States each year. It usually strikes people between the ages of 40 and 70.

    Considerations

    • For most patients, ALS is a terminal disease, with an average survival time of three to five years. Some people live longer, and in a small number of cases, people go into remission.

    Famous Ties

    • In addition to baseball great Lou Gehrig, other famous people affected by ALS include boxer Ezzard Charles, jazz musician Charles Mingus, and Sesame Street creator Jon Stone.

Neurological Disorders - Related Articles