Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Symptoms

AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

DESCRIPTION

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. ALS is often called Lou Gehrig’s disease, after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it.

Symptoms –

Difficulty walking

Tripping or falling

Weakness

Clumsiness

Trouble swallowing

Muscle cramps

Cognitive and behavioral change

Risk factors –

Heredity

Older age

Common in men

Genetics

Smoking

Toxin exposure

Diagnosis and test –

Electromyography

Nerve conduction study

Magnetic resonance imaging

Blood and urine test

Muscle biopsy

Treatment –

Medications

Physical and occupational therapy

Brain computer interface