ALS: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Written by James McIntoshReviewed by Dr Helen Webberley

Knowledge center
Last updated: Fri 6 May 2016
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What do Usain Bolt, Ethel Kennedy, Justin Bieber and the Cookie Monster all have in
common? They are just a few of the thousands of people that have participated in the
ice bucket challenge: an Internet sensation that has been used to promote awareness
of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2014.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurological disease that
causes dysfunction of the nerves that control muscle movement. Over time, this leads to
muscle weakness, gradually affecting how the body functions. In the late stages of ALS,
the condition affects nerves that control breathing and other vital bodily functions,
resulting in death.
ALS is the most common type of motor neuron disease (MND); in the US, most
people use the term ALS to mean MND. ALS is sometimes also referred to as Lou
Gehrig's disease, after the famous baseball player who had the condition.
The disease was first discovered in 1869 by the French neurologist Jean-Martin
Charcot, and first written about in 1874, but it was the impact on Gehrig's career that
truly brought ALS into public awareness in 1939.
According to the ALS Association, about 6,400 people are diagnosed with the condition
every year in the US, with an estimated 20,000 living with ALS at any one moment.
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Contents of this article:

What is ALS? (this page)

Symptoms and diagnosis

Treatments and prevention

This Medical News Today article will give you the essential details about ALS. You will
also see introductions at the end of some sections to any recent developments that
have been covered by MNT's news stories. Also look out for links to information about
related conditions.

Fast facts on ALS

Here are some key points about ALS. More detail and supporting information is in the
main article.

ALS affects nerve cells found in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle
weakness, a gradual loss of motor function and, eventually, death.

The average life expectancy of ALS patients after diagnosis is between 2-5 years.

No one knows what causes ALS, but environmental and genetic factors are thought
to be involved.

Common symptoms of ALS include weakness in the limbs and difficulties with
speech and breathing.

Progressive muscle weakness and paralysis eventually occur in all people with ALS.

ALS is usually diagnosed based on presenting symptoms while ruling out other
illnesses.

There is currently no cure for ALS. Treatment focuses on the alleviation of

symptoms, and possibly slowing down the rate of ALS progression.

As ALS causes a range of physical, social and psychological symptoms,

multidisciplinary care teams are important.

As well as physical treatment, it is important for ALS patients to receive social and
psychological support.

The ice bucket challenge raised around $115 million dollars in asix-week period in
2014. The ALS Association has already allocated around $47.5 million of that money to
research projects investigating ALS.