ALS Fact Sheet
ALS Fact Sheet
ALS Fact Sheet
Individuals and
Families
Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive Each person’s disease course is unique, but eventually most
neuromuscular disease that destroys muscle-controlling individuals with ALS will not be able to stand or walk, get in or
nerve cells called motor neurons. out of bed on their own, use their hands and arms, or breathe
without assistance.
In ALS, motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord are
affected. As these nerve cells deteriorate and are lost, they The involuntary muscles, such as those that control the
stop sending signals to muscles. In the absence of signals, heartbeat, gastrointestinal tract and bowel, bladder and sexual
the muscles they control atrophy, becoming weak and then functions are not directly affected in ALS. Sensations, such as
nonfunctional. vision, hearing and touch, are also unaffected.
ALS is estimated to affect 5 out of every 100,000 people in In many cases, ALS does not affect a person’s thinking ability.
the United States. Between 15,000 and 20,000 Americans are However, as many as 50% of people with ALS develop some
estimated to be living with ALS in the U.S. degree of cognitive (thinking) or behavioral abnormalities.
Onset of ALS symptoms usually occurs in late middle age or Lifespan after an ALS diagnosis typically is 2 to 5 years.
later, although it also can occur in young adults, as well as in
the elderly. Currently, there is no cure for ALS and no effective treatment
to halt or reverse the progression of the disease. However,
ALS affects persons of all races and ethnicities, and men are there are treatments that may modify or slow the disease
slightly more likely to develop ALS than women. course, as well as therapies that can help control symptoms,
prevent unnecessary complications, and make living with
Some studies suggest that military veterans are about 1.5 the disease easier.
to 2 times more likely to develop ALS. ALS is recognized
as a service-connected disease by the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Speech therapy can help A machine called the cough assist can
with difficulties speaking help to remove secretions from lungs.
or swallowing. Adaptive technology
can help with writing, art projects, A gastrostomy tube (sometimes
using a computer or cellphone, and called a g-tube or feeding tube) allows
electronically controlling the liquid nutrition to enter the stomach
environment. Computer-based directly,bypassing the mouth, throat
speech synthesizers that and esophagus, when weakness in the
use eye-tracking technology muscles of the throat makes chewing
can help with nonverbal or swallowing difficult and prevents
communication, and voice banking individuals from being able to get
allows patients enough nourishment from eating.
to store their own voice Physical therapy helps to restore and
for future use. maintain muscle strength and
function through exercise, as well as
to maintain range of motion through
stretching. Occupational therapy can
help people with ALS conserve energy
and remain mobile.
Oxidative stress
An imbalance between the production
of free radicals (highly reactive oxygen-