ALS Disease

ALS Disease: Understanding Motor Neuron Degeneration and Its Impact on Daily Life

 ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness.

We're Here to Help.
Get in Touch.

Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.

Doctors

Neurology: ALS Overview And Definitions

What is ALS?

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a rare, devastating, and rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease that directly attacks the nerve cells, called motor neurons, responsible for controlling all voluntary muscles. When these motor neurons die, the brain loses its ability to initiate and control movement. 

The condition is widely known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the famous American baseball player who was diagnosed in 1939. 

While there is currently no cure, treatment and specialized, aggressive care focuses on managing its aggressive progression and improving the patient’s quality of life.

  • Etymology: Amyotrophic means “no muscle nourishment” (muscle wasting); Lateral refers to the area of the spinal cord where nerve fibers are located; Sclerosis means hardening or scarring.
  • Core Focus: Progressive loss of voluntary muscle control while typically sparing cognitive function, sensation, and control over bladder/bowel function.

The Scope of ALS

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) affects two important types of nerve cells: upper motor neurons in the brain and lower motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. Damage to both leads to a mix of stiffness and weakness, which is the main feature of the disease.

Icon LIV Hospital

Key Symptoms

NEUROLOGY

Upper Motor Neurons (UMN):

  • Causes muscle stiffness (spasticity)
  • Overactive reflexes

Lower Motor Neurons (LMN):

  • Causes muscle weakness
  • Visible muscle twitches (fasciculations)
  • Severe muscle wasting (atrophy)
Icon 1 LIV Hospital

Progression

NEUROLOGY
  • ALS usually starts in one area, like an arm, leg, or speech muscles.

  • It gradually spreads to other parts of the body, including muscles needed for breathing.

What ALS Is NOT

It’s important to tell ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) apart from other nerve and muscle diseases, because some of the early signs like muscle weakness can look similar. But ALS is different because it damages both upper and lower motor neurons and gets worse over time in a clear, predictable way. Knowing this helps patients get the right diagnosis and care as early as possible.

How ALS is different from other conditions:

  • Not Multiple Sclerosis (MS): MS is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the protective coating of nerves. Symptoms come and go.
    ALS is not autoimmune; its symptoms keep getting worse without breaks.

  • Not Parkinson’s Disease: Parkinson’s mainly affects movement control because of low dopamine levels.
    ALS mainly causes muscle weakness, shrinking of muscles (atrophy), and stiffness (spasticity).

  • Not Myasthenia Gravis: Myasthenia Gravis causes muscle weakness that improves with rest.
    In ALS, weakness does not get better, it continues to progress.

30
Years of
Excellence

Trusted Worldwide

With patients from across the globe, we bring over three decades of medical expertise and hospitality to every individual who walks through our doors.  

Book a Free Certified Online Doctor Consultation

Doctors

Table of Contents

We're Here to Help.
Get in Touch.

Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.

Doctors
img 1 LIV Hospital

Diagnosis and Staging

A precise neurological diagnosis begins with a thorough clinical exam to test reflexes, muscle strength, sensation, and cognitive function. This exam is the cornerstone for localizing the problem. To confirm a diagnosis and determine its severity, neurologists use advanced tools. Neuroimaging, such as MRI and CT scans, provides detailed pictures of the brain and spinal cord. Electrical tests, like an EEG for seizures or an EMG for nerve issues, measure nervous system activity. In some cases, a lumbar puncture is needed to analyze cerebrospinal fluid. This comprehensive data allows the team to “stage” the condition, such as classifying the progression of a neurodegenerative disease.

Major Categories of ALS

All forms of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) lead to the same functional decline, but the way the disease begins influences initial care needs. The disease is categorized based on whether it is inherited and the body region where symptoms first appear.

These distinctions help specialized clinics provide precise projections for care needs, such as early respiratory or nutritional support.

  • Sporadic ALS: This is the most common form, accounting for 90–95% of cases, and occurs without a known family link.
  • Familial ALS: This accounts for 5–10% of cases, meaning it is inherited through a known genetic mutation.
  • Limb Onset ALS: Symptoms first appear in the arms or legs, leading to difficulty walking, grasping, or lifting objects. This is the most frequent onset type.

Related Organ Systems

While ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a neurological disease, its devastating impact is felt by multiple organ systems that rely on voluntary muscle control. The core management strategy centers on supporting the function of these failing systems.

The long-term care of ALS patients requires continuous collaboration between specialists focused on these critical functions.

  • Neuromuscular System: The entire network of motor nerves and muscles that controls all movement.
  • Respiratory System: The diaphragm and chest muscles fail over time, requiring non-invasive or invasive ventilation support to maintain breathing.
  • Gastrointestinal System: The muscles of the throat and esophagus fail, severely impairing swallowing (dysphagia) and often requiring nutritional support via a feeding tube (PEG tube).
NEUROLOGY 2 LIV Hospital

ALS Subspecialty Areas of Care

The complex, rapidly progressing nature of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) demands a continuous, coordinated effort from a variety of medical and therapeutic specialists. Neurologists lead this multidisciplinary care model, coordinating treatment across the entire spectrum of functional loss.

This specialized, team-based approach has been scientifically proven to extend survival time and significantly improve the daily comfort and quality of life for patients.

  • Pulmonology (Respiratory Care): Manages breathing issues, providing non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and coordinating decisions regarding long-term respiratory support.
  • Speech and Swallowing Therapy: Utilizes techniques and devices to maximize communication and assists in planning for alternative feeding methods.
  • Palliative Care: Provides essential pain and symptom management, emotional support, and assists with advanced care planning.

Why is ALS Important?

The study of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is paramount in medicine due to the clinical complexity required to manage rapid functional decline and the immense potential for research breakthroughs. ALS research provides vital clues into the fundamental mechanisms of other major neurodegenerative processes.

  • Research Model: Studying the genetics and pathology of ALS provides key insights into protein misfolding and cellular death common to other neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Care Benchmark: The successful multidisciplinary clinic model, involving doctors, nurses, and therapy specialists, is crucial for improving patient survival and well-being.
  • Therapeutic Innovation: Clinical trials are actively testing disease-modifying therapies, including gene therapies, aimed at slowing or reversing motor neuron death.

The Role of Early Assessment

Early and accurate diagnosis is exceptionally important for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). A proper assessment helps quickly exclude other treatable conditions that may mimic the initial signs of motor neuron disease, such as severe vitamin deficiencies or nerve compression.

Crucially, an early diagnosis allows patients to immediately begin treatments that can slow the disease’s functional progression and provides valuable time for essential advanced care planning.

  • Confirmation of Diagnosis: Ensures that patients are not delayed in receiving an accurate diagnosis by ruling out easily treatable conditions.
  • Access to Treatment: Enables immediate access to FDA-approved disease-modifying therapies that can slow functional decline.
  • Care Planning: Provides necessary time to discuss ventilation options, feeding tube placement, and advanced care directives with the patient and family.

30
Years of
Excellence

Trusted Worldwide

With patients from across the globe, we bring over three decades of medical expertise and hospitality to every individual who walks through our doors.  

Book a Free Certified Online Doctor Consultation

Doctors

Table of Contents

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is ALS and what does a neurologist do?

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease where motor neurons die, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis. A neurologist diagnoses the condition and manages the medical aspects of care, coordinating a multidisciplinary treatment team

ALS does not treat conditions; rather, it is the condition. The specialist care team treats the associated symptoms, which include muscle spasticity, difficulty breathing, problems swallowing, and impaired speech.

The main categories are Sporadic ALS (most common, without a known family link) and Familial ALS (inherited). It is also categorized by its onset: Limb Onset (starts in arms/legs) or Bulbar Onset (starts in speech/swallowing muscles).

You should see a neurologist immediately if you experience unexplained, persistent muscle weakness, visible muscle twitching (fasciculations), or worsening difficulty swallowing or speaking without a clear cause.

ALS is a progressive, fatal disease involving the direct death of motor neurons. MS is an autoimmune disease where the nerve coating is attacked, causing inflammation and episodic symptoms that may improve or stabilize over time.

Spine Hospital of Louisiana

Let's Talk About Your Health

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE...

Leave your phone number and our medical team will call you back to discuss your healthcare needs and answer all your questions.

Let's Talk About Your Health

Contact Us to Get Information!

Contact
Your Comparison List (you must select at least 2 packages)