Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Introduction

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a serious neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles. It may begin with muscle twitching or weakness in an arm or leg, or with slurring of speech. Eventually, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis affects your ability to control the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe.
In the United States, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is often called Lou Gehrig's disease, after Hall of Fame baseball player Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees, who died of the disease in 1941.

The cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis remains elusive, as does any treatment that can reverse the relentless progression of the disease. Treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis typically focuses on efforts to relieve symptoms and maintain quality of life in the years after diagnosis.