What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive brain disease that attacks the nerve cells (neurons) that control voluntary muscles. This disease belongs to a group of motor neuron disorders (e.g., muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease) that lead to the gradual degeneration and death of motor neurons, the nerve cells located in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. These motor neurons serve as connections from the nervous system to the muscles in the body. Imagine wanting to brush your teeth. The motor neurons in the brain ( upper motor neurons ) have to send a message to the motor neurons in the spinal cord ( lower motor neurons ). The lower motor neurons then send the message to the muscles that are needed to brush your teeth (arms, mouth, etc.). ALS causes both the upper and lower motor neurons to degenerate or die. Both the brain and spinal cord lose the ability to initiate and send messages to the muscles in the b
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a terminal neurological disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. Often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s disease” (a famous baseball player who died from the disease), it is one of the most devastating of the disorders that affects the function of nerves and muscles. ALS does not affect mental functioning or the senses (such as seeing or hearing), and it is not contagious. Currently, there is no cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
