Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nervous system, specifically the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord.

Worldwide, approximately 400,000 people live with ALS, and around 100,000 die from the disease each year. In Europe, about 50,000 people are affected, according to the patient association ALS Liga.

The prevalence is estimated at 2 to 6 people per 100,000 population; the disease is slightly more common in men than in women, Euronews reports. Most patients are diagnosed between the ages of 55 and 75, and after symptoms appear, life expectancy is typically 2 to 5 years.

However, the disease can occur earlier. Actor Eric Dane passed away on Thursday at the age of 53, less than a year after publicly announcing his ALS diagnosis.

ALS affects motor neurons—the nerve cells that control voluntary movements—causing signals from the brain to stop reaching the muscles.

Symptoms of ALS vary depending on which neurons are affected.

Muscle weakness is usually the first sign, gradually spreading and worsening over time.

Other common symptoms include difficulty walking or performing daily tasks, weakness in the legs, feet, or ankles, weakness in the hands, slurred speech, and swallowing difficulties.

ALS most often begins in the limbs—hands, feet, arms, or legs—and then spreads to other parts of the body.

Depending on which body part is affected first, ALS is classified into three forms: limb-onset in the legs, limb-onset in the arms, or bulbar-onset affecting the mouth and throat.

There are also two types of ALS based on causes:

• Sporadic ALS, accounting for about 90% of cases, occurs randomly for unknown reasons, according to the nonprofit academic medical center Cleveland Clinic.

• Familial ALS, making up roughly 10% of cases, is caused by inherited genetic mutations passed down in families.

How is ALS treated?

Although there is currently no cure for ALS, treatments have been developed to slow disease progression and improve quality of life. These include medication, physical therapy and other rehabilitation methods, as well as nutritional support and respiratory assistance.

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter