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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (a-mi-oh-TROH-fik LAT-ur-ul skluh-ROH-sis), or ALS, is a serious neurological disease that causes muscle weakness, disability and eventually death. ALS is often called Lou Gehrig's disease, after the famous baseball player who was diagnosed with it in 1939. In the U.S., ALS and motor neuron disease (MND) are sometimes used interchangeably.
Worldwide, ALS occurs in 1 to 3 people per 100,000. In the vast majority of cases — 90 to 95 percent — doctors don't yet know why ALS occurs. About 5 to 10 percent of ALS cases are inherited.
ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, or with slurring of speech. Eventually, ALS affects your ability to control the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/detail_amyotrophiclateralsclerosis.htm. Accessed Sept. 28, 2010.
- Elman LB, et al. Clinical features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 28, 2010.
- Maragakis NJ, et al. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 28, 2010.
- McCluskey L. Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 28, 2010.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Sept. 28, 2010.
- ALS in the military: Unexpected consequences of military service. ALS Association. http://www.alsa.org/files/pdf/als_military_paper.pdf. Accessed Sept. 28, 2010.
- Elman LB, et al. Diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 28, 2010.
- Galvez-Jimenez N, et al. Symptom-based management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 28, 2010.
- Choudry RB, et al. Pharmacologic treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Sept. 28, 2010.
- Why is exercise important? In: Everyday Life With ALS: A Practical Guide. Muscular Dystrophy Association. http://www.als-mda.org/publications/everydaylifeals/ch8/. Accessed Sept. 28, 2010.
- Miller RG, et al. Practice parameter update: The care of the patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Multidisciplinary care, symptom management, and cognitive/behavioral impairment (an evidence-based review): Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2009;73:1227.
- Miller RG, et al. Practice parameter update: The care of the patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Drug, nutritional, and respiratory therapies (an evidence-based review): Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2009;73:1227.
- Covering all the bases. ALS Association. http://www.alsa.org/coveringallthebases/. Accessed Oct. 21, 2010.
- Armon C. Smoking may be considered an established risk factor for sporadic ALS. Neurology. 2009;73:1693.
- Gallo V, et al. Smoking and risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Analysis of the EPIC cohort. Annals of Neurology. 2009;65:378.
- Mayadev AS, et al. The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis center: A model of multidisciplinary management. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2008;19:619.
- Crum BA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 6, 2010.
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