Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a disease of the nervous system that progresses over time. ALS causes damage to the nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, leading to loss of muscle control which worsens over time. This condition is also called Lou Gehrig’s Disease after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it in the early years of research into the condition.
This condition often begins with weakness in a limb or muscle twitching and then progresses to affect all of the systems of the body. Sufferers might end up unable to speak, eat, or breathe on their own over time.
The signs and symptoms of this condition vary widely from patient to patient. This can lead to a delay in an accurate diagnosis. The first sign of the disease is almost always a weakness in a body part which seems to spread and get worse over time. Other symptoms of ALS include:
ALS often impacts the feet, the limbs, and the hands first. It then spreads throughout the body over time. As the disease destroys nerve cells, the muscles throughout the body start to be impacted. Later stages of the condition are characterised by loss of control of the ability to chew and swallow, as well as the loss of control over speaking and breathing.
Pain is common in the early stages of the disease but is not common in the late stages. ALS usually does not impact the bladder and usually does not impact the senses.
The causes of ALS are poorly understood. Some cases are inherited, but there are people with no genetic markers for the disease who can get it as well. ALS is a condition that affects the nerve cells that control voluntary movements like walking and talking. ALS also causes the motor neurons in the brain to slowly deteriorate and die. As more and more motor neurons are damaged or die, the symptoms of the condition become more widespread.
The risk factors for this condition are:
Diagnosis can be difficult in the early stages of the disease. This condition can mimic many other neurological diseases. Tests to isolate the cause of a patient’s symptoms will likely include an electromyogram (EMG) which is done with the use of needle electrodes that test the activity of muscles in the body as they contract and are at rest. A nerve conduction study will likely also be done to measure the ability of the nerves to send impulses to muscles throughout the body.
MRI can also be done to look at the spinal cord and the brain to see if there are abnormalities that might identify ALS. A spinal tap procedure might be done to look at the spinal fluid to see if there are abnormalities present. Blood and urine tests can be taken as well to rule out other causes of your symptoms.
Prevention of this condition is largely impossible. You can avoid smoking and try to limit your interaction with chemicals and other environmental items that might cause you harm. If you have a family member with ALS, you should establish care with a doctor to regularly check on your health to make sure that the early warning signs of the disease are not overlooked.
Treatment of ALS can vary widely, depending upon the symptoms that each patient displays. There is no cure for this condition and no way to reverse the damage that the disease causes. All treatments are done in response to the progression of the disease. There are three medications that can help increase life expectancy and which might help with muscle function for some patients. These are Riluzole, Edaravone, and Relyviro. These medications might not be prescribed for patients in the later stages of the condition.
Treatment can be offered to help make muscle cramps and spasms less painful, to treat fatigue, to help with things like constipation, and to help control pain. Physical therapy is often used to help with mobility and muscle control, and in the later stages of the disease, breathing care and support will be prescribed. Speech therapy, nutritional support, and psychological support will also often be provided to help patients to have as normal a life as possible.