Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease and is named for a famous baseball player who had the disease. It is a disease that affects the nerve cells in the spine and brain and causes your neurons (which transmit impulses from your spinal cord to your muscles. When these neurons die, you are no longer able to control your muscles and they waste away. Early symptoms of ALS include muscle weakness and difficulty with speech, swallowing or breathing. The cause of ALS is not completely understood and their is no cure. However, there are some drugs that are currently being tested.