what us als

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, named after the famous baseball player who was diagnosed with it. The disease affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movements such as walking and talking, which are called motor neurons. As motor neurons degenerate and die, they stop sending messages to the muscles, which causes the muscles to weaken, start to twitch, and waste away. Eventually, the brain loses its ability to initiate and control voluntary movements. Early symptoms of ALS include muscle twitches, muscle cramps, tight and stiff muscles, and muscle weakness affecting an arm, a leg, the neck, or diaphragm. As the disease progresses, individuals with ALS may experience problems with breathing, maintaining weight, muscle cramps, neuropathy, anxiety, and depression. Although the cause of ALS is not completely understood, recent research suggests that multiple complex factors contribute to the death of motor neurons. While the search for an effective treatment and cure continues, multidisciplinary teams across the globe are assisting patients and their families to adjust to the many challenges of living with ALS.