ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, rare progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons. Motor neurons are nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord which control voluntary muscle movement, meaning muscles that we choose to move in order to do things like walking, talking and chewing.

ALS is a type of motor neuron disease in which these neurons degenerate and die. As they do so, these motor neurons are unable to send messages to the muscles which causes the muscles to weaken and eventually atrophy, or waste away. Eventually, the brain loses the ability to initiate and control these muscle movements.

ALS is a progressive disease which means the symptoms get worse over time. As the disease progresses, the muscle weakness and atrophy can spread to other parts of the body. People with ALS may lose the ability to move, speak, eat and even breathe.