Also called: Also called: ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a nervous system disease that attacks nerve cells called neurons in your brain and spinal cord. These neurons transmit messages from your brain and spinal cord to your voluntary muscles - the ones you can control, like in your arms and legs. At first, this causes mild muscle problems. Some people notice
- Trouble walking or running
- Trouble writing
- Speech problems
Eventually, you lose your strength and cannot move. When muscles in your chest fail, you cannot breathe. A ventilator can help, but most people with ALS die from respiratory failure.
The disease usually strikes between age 40 and 60. More men than women get it. No one knows what causes ALS. It can run in families, but usually it strikes at random. There is no cure. Medicines can relieve symptoms and, sometimes, prolong survival.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/detail_amyotrophiclateralsclerosis.htm
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/amyotrophiclateralsclerosisspanish/htm/index.htm
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis/DS00359/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/esclerosis_lateral_amiotrofica.htm
- What Is ALS?(ALS Association) - http://www.alsa.org/als/what.cfm
- Gene Mutation Linked to Inherited ALS(02/26/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_81094.html
- Creatine Kinase Test(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q71ss-cktest.html
- Diagnosing ALS(ALS Association) - http://www.alsa.org/als/diagnosing.cfm?CFID=84585&CFTOKEN=69857032
- Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Velocities(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.mda.org/publications/Quest/q75ss.html
- Initial Symptoms of ALS(ALS Association) - http://www.alsa.org/als/symptoms.cfm?CFID=988816&CFTOKEN=9678495
- Meals for Easy Swallowing(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.als-mda.org/publications/meals/
- ALS Association's Patient Bill of Rights for People Living with ALS(ALS Association) - http://www.alsa.org/patient/rights.cfm?CFID=12776
- Dressing with Ease, Style and Comfort(ALS Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.alsa.org/files/cms/Resources/FYI_07_Dressing.pdf
- Everyday Life with ALS: A Practical Guide(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.als-mda.org/publications/everydaylifeals/introduction/
- Breathing Difficulties(ALS Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.alsa.org/files/cms/Resources/Breathing_Difficulties.pdf
- ALS Caregiver's Guide(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.als-mda.org/publications/alscare/
- Benefits for Veterans with ALS(ALS Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.alsa.org/files/cms/Resources/Veterans_Benefits.pdf
- Caregiving Tips and Hints(ALS Association) - http://www.alsa.org/patient/tips.cfm?CFID=12776
- Oral Care for the Patient with ALS: A Guide for the Caregiver(ALS Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.alsa.org/files/cms/Resources/Oral_Care.pdf
- Patient Services Frequently Asked Questions(ALS Association) - http://www.alsa.org/faq/patient.cfm?CFID=84585&CFTOKEN=69857032
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/amyotrophiclateralsclerosisspanish/htm/index.htm
- Compassionate Allowances(Social Security Administration) - http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Amyotrophic+Lateral+Sclerosis%22
- Genetic Testing for ALS(ALS Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.alsa.org/files/cms/Resources/FYI_Genetic%20Testing_080805.pdf?CFID=2141797&CFTOKEN=49781915
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Genetics Home Reference: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=amyotrophiclateralsclerosis
- Mutations in FUS Gene Are a Cause of Familial ALS(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.als-mda.org/research/news/090227als-fus-gene.html
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Sweden, 1991-2005. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19364937&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: A mechanism for low penetrance in an ALS family with... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19332692&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Rethinking ALS: the FUS about TDP-43. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19303844&tool=MedlinePlus
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=amyotrophic+lateral+sclerosis[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary of ALS-Related Medical and Scientific Terms(ALS Association) - http://www.alsa.org/resources/glossary.cfm?CFID=82761&CFTOKEN=59501706
- MDA ALS Centers(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.als-mda.org/clinics/alsserv.html
- ALS Association - http://www.alsa.org/
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Muscular Dystrophy Association - http://www.mda.org/
Also available in Spanish http://www.mdaenespanol.org/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- MDA/ALS Newsmagazine(Muscular Dystrophy Association) - http://www.als-mda.org/publications/als/
- Who Gets ALS(ALS Association) - http://www.alsa.org/als/who.cfm?CFID=12809
- Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS)(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/grownup/conditions/als.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/