Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Photo

Signs and Symptoms

Take a moment, and point at the computer screen. Notice that your index finger is extended and your other fingers are curled into your palm.

How did your hand know to do that?

It all began in your brain, the starting point for an important chain of communication. Your brain ordered nerve cells, called motor neurons, to activate muscles in your hand and fingers. In this instance, your muscles responded, and your fingers moved.

In a person afflicted with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), there is a break in the chain of communication. The motor neurons degenerate and die. Because of the lack of motor neurons, the brain cannot communicate with the muscles, and voluntary muscle movement is no longer possible. Because the muscles are no longer used, they too begin to degenerate and weaken causing a wide range of disabilities.

ALS progresses rapidly and leads to paralysis. Often, the degenerating muscles in the chest and diaphragm cause a person with ALS to rely on mechanical ventilation for breathing, and most sufferers die of respiratory failure within three to five years from the onset of symptoms. Some sufferers have survived more than 10 years. Stephen Hawking, a world famous physicist, has lived with ALS for nearly 40 years. He was diagnosed with the disease at age 21. Since then, he has married, fathered three children, and written numerous books with the help of a special computer.

It is important to remember that a person suffering with ALS has normal brain function, as is clearly demonstrated in Stephen Hawking. The person can think clearly, remember things, and have the same level of intelligence as before the ALS diagnosis was made. ALS affects the chain of communication at the motor neuron level. So, the brain is not affected.

ALS does NOT affect:

  • Mind (memory, intelligence)
  • Personality
  • Vision
  • Sense of smell
  • Taste
  • Hearing
  • Ability to recognize touch
  • Bladder or bowel functions (typically)


ALS does affect:

  • Speech
  • Swallowing
  • Chewing
  • Breathing

ALS is sometimes referred to as Motor Neuron Disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease for Lou Gehrig, the famed baseball player for the New York Yankees, who became afflicted with ALS, eventually dying from the disease in 1941.

ALS is a rare disease. Only two out of every 100,000 people will become afflicted. That means that there are approximately 5,000 new cases of ALS in the United States each year.

In rare cases, ALS may be inherited. This inherited form of ALS is called Familial ALS, but only 5 to 10% of cases are inherited. The most common type of ALS is Sporadic ALS. It can strike anyone regardless of race, ethnic background, or even age. Children can get ALS, but it is extremely rare. The most common age for a person to first notice symptoms is between the ages of 40 to 70 years old.

† Top Of Page

Signs and Symptoms

ALS typically starts in one part of the body, like the hands, feet, or limbs. You may notice that you are dropping things, have slurred speech, or difficulty walking. You may find that you have difficulty buttoning your clothes, that you are experiencing muscle cramps, or that you feel twitching in your arms, shoulders, or tongue. You will probably feel very fatigued, but it is important to remember that the disease progresses differently in everyone.

These symptoms are also the symptoms for other conditions, like stroke or Parkinson’s disease, so before coming to your own conclusions, it is important to see your health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

† Top Of Page