How is ALS diagnosed? What are the early symptoms?
There is no specific test or procedure to diagnose ALS. Rather, doctors generally reach a diagnosis by using a battery of tests to eliminate other possibilities. These tests include: blood and urine sampling; spinal taps; neurological examinations; muscle and/or nerve biopsies; imaging technologies, including MRIs, x-rays and myelograms (an x-ray examination of the spine); and electrodiagnostic tests that measure muscles’ and nerves’ response to electrical currents. Doctors will also take a family history in order to help determine if an individual has familial ALS. There is a genetic test to look for the gene mutation linked to FALS; however, only 20 percent of individuals with FALS actually display the mutation, so the genetic test is not in itself conclusive. The most common early symptom of ALS is muscle weakness in the arms, legs, or throat muscles. Individuals may experience difficulty speaking clearly or swallowing. They may be unable to complete tasks that require fine motor sk
