What is ALS? – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | The ALS Association

Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their demise.

When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. When voluntary muscle action is progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe.

The motor nerves affected when you have ALS are the motor neurons that provide voluntary movements and muscle control. Examples of voluntary movements are making the effort to reach for a smartphone or step off a curb. These actions are controlled by the muscles in the arms and legs.

French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot discovered ALS in 1869. While ALS can affect anyone, anywhere, at any time, there are two different ways cases are categorized.

In families with familial ALS, there is a 50% chance each offspring will inherit the gene mutation and may develop the disease.

For unknown reasons, military veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease than the general public.

A wealth of new scientific understanding about the physiology ALS has occurred in recent years. There are currently four drugs approved by the U.S. FDA to treat ALS: Riluzole, Nuedexta, Radicava and Tiglutik.

Studies to develop more treatments and a cure for ALS, many funded by The ALS Association, are ongoing around the world. Scientists have made significant progress in understanding how the disease works, identifying biological indicators that can help diagnose and treat the disease, and learning ways to prevent cases of ALS.Learn more about ALS research.

In addition, people living with ALS may experience a better quality of life by participating in support groups and attending one of The ALS Associations Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence or a Recognized Treatment Center. Such Centers provide a national standard of best-practice multidisciplinary care to help manage the symptoms of the disease and help people living with ALS live on their own terms for as long as possible.

According to the American Academy of Neurologys Practice Parameter Update, studies have shown that participation in a multidisciplinary ALS clinic may prolong survival and improve quality of life.

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What is ALS? - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | The ALS Association