a.k.a Lou Gehrig’s Disease

WHAT IS ALS?

ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly calledLou Gehrig’s disease, affects nerve cells in both the spinal cord and brain. This causes motor neurons to degenerate and eventually die, leading to muscle paralysis.

WHAT CAUSES ALS?

There is currently no known cause for the disease.Is ALS a rare disease?It is more common than you might expect. About 5,600 people in the US are diagnosed with ALS each year and it is estimated that as many as 30,000 Americans have the disease at any given time. In fact, ALS is as common as multiple sclerosis.

WHO GETS ALS?

ALS can happen to anyone. It most commonly occurs in men and women between the ages of 35 and 70,but people of any age, race, ethnicity, location or income group can get ALS.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ALS?

Early signs of ALS can include muscle weakness, stiffness, and cramps, tripping, dropping things,abnormal fatigue of the arms and/or legs, twitches, slurred speech and uncontrollable periods of laughingor crying. Later signs include paralysis of the arms, legs, and trunk muscles, as well as the muscles that control vital functions such as speech, swallowing, and breathing.

DOES ALS AFFECT A PERSON'S MIND?

No. The vast majority of ALS patients remain sharp despite the progressive deterioration of their bodies. How long do people with ALS survive?The average life expectancy is two to five years.

CAN ALS BE CURED?

No, there is no known cure at this time. However, because of advances in research and medical care, many ALS patients are living longer, more productive lives.

FAST FACTS ABOUT ALS

• ALS can strike at any time, but it most commonly strikes between the ages of 35 and 70.
• It’s estimated that as many as 30,000 Americans have ALS at any given time.
• It affects slightly more men than women.
• Military veterans are 1 1/2 to two times more likely to develop ALS than people who haven’t served in the military.
• Ninety percent of ALS cases are considered “sporadic,” meaning there is no clear reason for the disease’s development.
• Five to 10 percent of ALS cases are familial and due to mutated genes. The first symptoms of the disease often appear in either a hand or a leg and is referred to as “limb-onset ALS.” For others, the first symptoms are speech or swallowing difficulties, called “bulbar-onset ALS.”
• The spread of symptoms differ from patient to patient but eventually, all patients will lose the ability to move and breathe on their own.
• ALS does not affect mental ability.
• ALS patients burn calories faster than non-sufferers and as a result are often underweight.
• There isn’t one test to diagnose ALS. Diagnosis is done through a variety of observations and scans.
• There is no known cause of ALS but researchers think that it is a combination of genetics and environmental triggers.
• Researchers are studying exposure to toxic substances, diet, and physical trauma as potential causes of the disease.
• There is no cure or effective therapy for ALS. Patients will undergo palliative therapy to make themas comfortable as possible.