Understanding Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Symptoms & Causes

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a progressive neurological disease in which motor neurons degenerate and die. The disease starts slowly with muscle twitching and slurred speech, and progresses to loss of muscle control and ends in death.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis include slurred speech, muscle cramps, trouble lifting the front part of the foot and twitching of the arm, tongue or shoulder.

Causes

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis could be caused by free radicals, abnormally high levels of the brain chemical glutamate and an immune system which attacks the body.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis involves testing to rule out other neurological disorders. These tests include MRI, spinal tap and blood and urine tests.

Treatment

• Treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis includes physical, occupational and speech therapy to help with communication and muscle control. One medicine, Rilutek, is used to slow the symptoms of ALS.

Complications

• Complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis include problems breathing and eating, malnutrition, dehydration and pneumonia.