Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) »
What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes called Lou
Gehrig's disease, is a rapidly progressive, invariably fatal neurological disease
that attacks the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary
muscles. The disease
belongs to a group of disorders known as motor neuron diseases,
which are characterized by the gradual degeneration and death of motor
neurons.
Motor neurons are nerve cells located in the brain, brainstem, and spinal
cord that serve as controlling units and vital communication links between the
nervous system and the voluntary muscles of the body. Messages from motor
neurons in the brain (called upper motor neurons) are transmitted to motor
neurons in the spinal cord (called lower motor neurons) and from them to
particular muscles. In ALS, both the upper motor neurons and the lower motor
neurons degenerate or die, ceasing to send messages to muscles. Unable to
func...
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