Synonym(s): Lou Gehrig's Disease
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Studies with patientsTable of Contents (click to jump to sections)
What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Organizations
Related NINDS Publications and Information
Additional resources from MEDLINEplus
What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive, fatal neurological disease affecting as many as 20,000 Americans with 5,000 new cases occurring in the United States each year. The disorder belongs to a class of disorders known as motor neuron diseases. ALS occurs when specific nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary movement gradually degenerate. The loss of these motor neurons causes the muscles under their control to weaken and waste away, leading to paralysis. ALS manifests itself in different ways, depending on which muscles weaken first. Symptoms may include tripping and falling, loss of motor control in hands and arms, difficulty speaking, swallowing and/or breathing, persistent fatigue, and twitching and cramping, sometimes quite severely.
ALS strikes in mid-life. Men are about one-and-a-half times more likely to have the disease as women.Is there any treatment?
There is no cure for ALS; nor is there a proven therapy that will prevent or reverse the course of the disorder. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved riluzole, the first drug that has been shown to prolong the survival of ALS patients. Patients may also receive supportive treatments that address some of their symptoms.
What is the prognosis?
ALS is usually fatal within five years after diagnosis.
What research is being done?
The NINDS supports a broad range of studies aimed at discovering the cause(s) of ALS, finding better treatments, and ultimately preventing and curing the disorder.
Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.
OrganizationsALS Association (ALSA)
27001 Agoura Road
Suite 150
Calabasas Hills, CA
91301-5104
info@alsa-national.org
http://www.alsa.org
Tel: 818-880-9007
800-782-4747
Fax: 818-880-9006
Les Turner ALS Foundation
8142 North Lawndale Avenue
Skokie, IL
60076
info@lesturnerals.org
http://www.lesturnerals.org
Tel: 888-ALS-1107
847-679-3311
Fax: 847-679-9109
Muscular Dystrophy Association
3300 East Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ
85718-3208
mda@mdausa.org
http://www.mdausa.org/
Tel: 520-529-2000
800-572-1717
Fax: 520-529-5300
Related NINDS Publications and InformationAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Fact Sheet
A fact sheet on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) prepared by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Doubling Up: Researchers Combine a Common Dietary Supplement with an Antibiotic to Treat Lou Gehrig's Disease
January 2003 news summary on a drug combination that slows the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in an animal model.
Minocycline Delays Onset and Slows Progression of ALS in Mice
May 2002 news summary on a possible new treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Testimony on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, May 2000
NINDS Director's testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies
on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), May 18, 2000.
Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica
Esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) hoja informativa/Spanish-language fact sheet on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient's medical history.
All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.
Provided by:
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
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