Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that causes the death of motor neurons that control voluntary muscle movement. This condition affects approximately 2 out of every 100,000 people in the US, and while about 5 to 10% of ALS cases are inherited genetically, all remaining cases are sporadic (meaning anyone can be affected).
ALS is a progressive disease. Symptoms may be relatively mild at first, but eventually, people with ALS may lose the ability to move, speak, eat, and even breathe. Early ALS signs vary from person to person, but below you’ll find some relatively common symptoms that may point to this neurodegenerative condition.
Effects on Muscles
Gradually worsening muscle weakness is the most common initial symptom of ALS. You or a loved one with this condition might experience unusual fatigue in the arms or legs, or find it increasingly difficult to perform tasks like holding cutlery or turning a key in a lock. You might also notice muscle cramps, sporadic muscle twitching (fasciculations), unusual muscle tightness, and a loss of muscle bulk.
Coordination Problems
ALS symptoms often begin in the voluntary muscles of the arms, legs, hands, and feet. As a result, you might notice yourself tripping, losing your balance, or dropping things more frequently. You may also have more difficulty keeping your balance, or feel awkward when walking or running.
Effects on Speech and Swallowing
While some people with ALS first experience “limb onset” symptoms, others experience “bulbar onset” (speech-related) symptoms. These may include slurred speech, changes in pitch of voice, breathy speech patterns, uncontrollable laughing or crying, spasms in the muscles of the face, or twitching in the muscles of the tongue.
If you have any of the symptoms described above, this does not necessarily mean you are in the early stages of ALS; there are many other diseases and disorders that present similar symptoms. You will need to see a neurologist who can run tests to rule out other possibilities and either rule out or support an ALS diagnosis.
If you do receive an ALS diagnosis, you should continue seeing a neurologist, as he or she should be able to provide medical care, ALS medications, communication devices, and therapeutic resources to help you maintain your quality of life as much as possible. You should also visit the ALS Association website to find support groups, local services, and other resources for people with ALS and their families.
