What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

There are many types of lateral sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is also a type of lateral sclerosis. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a motor neuron disease that can be life-threatening and requires prompt treatment.

1. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease. It is caused by the degeneration of motor neurons in the central nervous system that control voluntary muscles. ALS is a type of muscular dystrophy. As the upper and lower motor neurons degenerate and die and stop sending messages to the muscles, the muscles gradually weaken and atrophy as they are unable to function. Eventually, the brain loses the ability to control voluntary movements altogether. The disease does not necessarily affect a patient's mental functioning like Alzheimer's does.

2. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a motor neuron disease and one of the four most common neurodegenerative diseases (the other three are Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease). The incidence of this disease is about 5 people per 100,000, with a male to female ratio of about 3:1. About 10% of patients have a family history of the disease. Its inheritance pattern can be autosomal dominant or recessive. The disease affects either the upper motor neurons (cerebrum, brainstem, spinal cord) or the lower motor neurons (cranial nerve nuclei, anterior horn cells of the spinal cord). It usually occurs in patients aged 30 to 50 years old, and is characterized by peripheral paralysis of the upper limbs, central paralysis of the lower limbs, and mixed and symmetrical damage to the upper and lower motor neurons.

3. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is characterized by muscle atrophy in the affected area. The first symptom is usually weakness and atrophy of the hand muscles (claw hand), which gradually spreads to the opposite side. The disease starts slowly and progresses progressively, usually without sensory impairment. The body seems to be gradually frozen, commonly known as "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis". In the late stage of the disease, bulbar palsy occurs, manifested by tongue muscle atrophy and tremor. Damage to the posterior cranial nerves causes slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and coughing when drinking water. Death often results from breathing difficulties, lung infection, and systemic failure. The average natural course of this disease is about 3 years. Those with rapid progression will die within 1 year of onset, while those with slow progression may last for about 10 years.