Juvenile primary lateral sclerosis is a rare disorder characterized by progressive weakness and stiffness of muscles in the arms, legs, and face. This disorder damages motor neurons, which are specialized nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control muscle movement.
Symptoms of juvenile primary lateral sclerosis begin in early childhood and progress over a period of 15 to 20 years. Early symptoms include clumsiness, muscle spasms, weakness and stiffness in the legs, and difficulty with balance. As symptoms progress, they include weakness and stiffness in the arms and hands, slurred speech, drooling, difficulty swallowing, and an inability to walk.
Juvenile primary lateral sclerosis is a rare disorder, with a small number of reported cases.
Mutations in the ALS2 gene cause juvenile primary lateral sclerosis.
The ALS2 gene provides instructions for making a protein called alsin. Alsin is abundant in motor neurons, but its function is not fully understood. Mutations in the ALS2 gene alter the instructions for producing alsin. As a result, alsin is unstable and decays rapidly, or it is disabled and cannot function properly. It is unclear how the loss of functional alsin protein damages motor neurons and causes juvenile primary lateral sclerosis.
Read more about the ALS2 gene.
This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.
These resources address the management of juvenile primary lateral sclerosis and may include treatment providers.
You might also find information on treatment of juvenile primary lateral sclerosis in
Patient support.
You may find the following resources about juvenile primary lateral sclerosis helpful. These materials are written for the general public.
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- Additional NIH Resources - National Institutes of Health
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You may also be interested in these resources, which are designed for healthcare professionals and researchers.
- JPLS
- juvenile PLS
- PLSJ
- primary lateral sclerosis, juvenile
The resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for
professional medical care or advice. Users seeking information about
a personal genetic disease, syndrome, or condition should consult with a qualified
healthcare professional.
See How can I find a genetics professional in my area? in the Handbook.