Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a type of neurological disorder that affects motor neurons, which are nerve cells in the brain and spine that control muscle movement. ALS, formerly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive disease, meaning it worsens over time.
As the condition progresses, it can affect muscles in all parts of the body, leading to muscle weakness, difficulty with movement and eventually, muscle atrophy.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with ALS, you can rely on the team of providers at Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Neurology to provide you with the high-quality, compassionate care you need and deserve.
What are the symptoms of ALS?
ALS typically develops gradually, and symptoms vary depending on how far the disease has progressed. Early symptoms of ALS may include:
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Fatigue
- Muscle twitches (spasticity) or cramps
- Muscle weakness, especially in the hands and feet
- Problems with balance and mobility
- Slurred or nasally speech
- Tight and stiff muscles
As ALS progresses, symptoms expand to affect more parts of the body. Symptoms of later-stage ALS may include:
- Breathing problems
- Constipation
- Difficulty speaking or forming words
- Drooling
- Malnutrition
- Unintended emotional responses, such as crying or laughing
- Weight loss
Eventually, ALS affects the muscles needed to breathe independently, causing respiratory failure.
What causes ALS?
Researchers aren’t quite sure what causes the development of ALS, though it’s thought to be related to genetics and environmental factors.
Who’s at risk of ALS?
ALS is a rare condition, with approximately 5,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year. Anyone can develop the disease, but some people are at higher risk. Risk factors include:
- Being between the ages of 55 and 75
- Being male
- Being white and non-Hispanic
- Having served in the military
Having a family member with ALS may also increase your risk. While up to 90% of cases have no known genetic component, approximately 5 to 10% of cases are considered inherited. This type of ALS is called “familial ALS.”
How is ALS diagnosed?
ALS is what’s known as a “diagnosis of exclusion,” which means that it is diagnosed after ruling out other potential causes of a person’s symptoms. A variety of tests can be used to determine a diagnosis, including:
- Blood tests
- Electrodiagnostic assessment to determine the extent of nerve damage
- Imaging scans, including X-rays or MRI
- Muscle or nerve biopsies
- Neurological assessments
- Spinal tap to test the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord
- Urine tests
Many of these tests serve two purposes—to confirm a diagnosis and to determine how far ALS has progressed.
How is ALS treated?
Once ALS develops, there is no way to reverse the damage done to the body’s motor neurons. Because of that, there’s currently no curative treatment for the disease. Treatment for ALS focuses on slowing the progress of the disease and improving quality of life.
Medications
Currently, ALS may be treated using medications to alleviate individual symptoms, such as muscle stiffness or excessive saliva production. Ongoing research is being conducted to find medications that will slow the progress of the disease and protect motor neurons. At this point, four medications are FDA-approved for the treatment of ALS.
Mobility Aids
As the disease progresses, it can cause increased difficulties with movement and mobility. Mobility aids such as canes, walkers and wheelchairs can help as the disease progresses, allowing patients to maintain independent movement as much as possible.
Nutritional Support
Because ALS can impact the muscles involved in chewing and swallowing, it can become progressively difficult for those with the condition to get the nutrients they need. A registered dietitian can provide support during this time, planning out meals to meet nutritional needs and providing meal supplementation through shakes or a feeding tube when needed.
Rehabilitation therapies
Those with ALS can benefit from physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services. Each type of rehabilitation offers support in different ways. Physical therapy can lower the risk of falls, combat muscle weakness and help maintain independence, while occupational therapy can help patients create adaptations to continue performing activities of daily life, such as bathing. Speech-language pathology can help with speech difficulties, as well as overcoming problems with swallowing.
Choose NGPG for ALS treatment
If you or a loved one are experiencing a degenerative disease like ALS, you deserve peace of mind in the care you receive. You’ll find that at NGPG Neurology, our neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurointerventional surgeons, neuropsychiatrists and other specialists work together as a team to provide our patients with the compassionate care they deserve, along with access to the latest advancements.
Our mission is to ensure our patients have the treatment options they need to slow the progress of their disease, experience a minimum of symptoms and maintain their quality of life and independence. We’re here for our patients and the ones who care for them.