ALS ( Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis )

What is ALS?

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that destroys nerve cells (motor neurons) controlling voluntary muscles, leading to weakness, muscle wasting (atrophy), and eventually paralysis, affecting movement, speech, swallowing, and breathing, with no cure but treatments available to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.  

What happens in ALS:

• Motor Neuron Degeneration: Motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord die off, stopping signals to muscles. 

• Muscle Atrophy: Muscles, deprived of nerve signals, waste away and weaken. 

• Impact on Functions: This leads to difficulty walking, talking, swallowing, and eventually breathing. 

• Cognition: ALS generally doesn't affect sensory functions or mental faculties, though some cognitive changes can occur. 

Common Symptoms:

• Muscle twitching (fasciculations) and cramps.

• Weakness in limbs, hands, or feet.

• Slurred speech (dysarthria) and difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).

• Stumbling or tripping. 

Progression:

• Symptoms often begin subtly in a limb (limb-onset) or with speech/swallowing issues (bulbar-onset). 

• It worsens over time, eventually causing respiratory failure, which is often the cause of death. 

Causes & Treatment:

• The cause is unknown in most cases, though genetics play a role in about 1 in 10 instances. 

• There's no cure, but medications and therapies help manage symptoms, slow progression, and maintain function. 

That was the case for Chris Rosati, who passed away in 2017 due to ALS.