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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffAlthough the average progression of primary lateral sclerosis lasts around 20 years, the disease has highly variable effects from person to person. Some people may be able to continue to walk, but others will eventually need wheelchairs or other assistive devices for mobility or other activities.
Adult PLS isn't considered to shorten life expectancy, but it may gradually affect the quality of your life as more muscles become disabled. Weaker muscles may cause you to fall more, which may result in injuries.
References
- NINDS primary lateral sclerosis information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/primary_lateral_sclerosis/primary_lateral_sclerosis.htm. Accessed Aug. 17, 2010.
- Juvenile primary lateral sclerosis. National Institutes of Health Genetics Home Reference. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=juvenileprimarylateralsclerosis. Accessed Aug. 16, 2010.
- Murray B, et al. Disorders of upper and lower motor neurons. In: Bradley WG, et al. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Butterworth-Heinemann Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50116-3&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50116-3--cesec19&uniq=215117994&isbn=978-0-7506-7525-3&sid=1040472768. Accessed Aug. 16, 2010.
- Brugman F, et al. Adult-onset primary lateral sclerosis is not associated with mutations in the ALS2 gene. Neurology. 2007;69:702.
- Tartaglia MC, et al. Differentiation between primary lateral sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Examination of symptoms and signs at disease onset and during follow-up. Archives of Neurology. 2007;64:232.
- Gordon PH, et al. Clinical features that distinguish PLS, upper motor neuron-dominant ALS, and typical ALS. Neurology. 2009;72:1948.
- Hadano S, et al. Molecular and cellular function of ALS2/alsin: Implication of membrane dynamics in neuronal development and degeneration. Neurochemistry International. 2007;51:74.
- Motor neuron diseases fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/motor_neuron_diseases/detail_motor_neuron_diseases.htm. Accessed Aug. 17, 2010.
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