All You Need To Know About Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), According to CDC

People with ALS usually have a shortened lifespan and may die within a few years of diagnosis. Multidisciplinary ALS clinics provide specialty care to people living with the disease. Attending ALS clinics may improve the quality and length of life of people living with ALS.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive and fatal disease, attacking neurons that control voluntary movement. These neurons die over time. The result is the gradual loss of muscle movement, speech, swallowing, and eventually, breathing.

The exact causes of ALS remain unknown. In 5%–10% of cases, ALS has a hereditary form, meaning it runs in families. The remaining 90% to 95% of cases have no clearly defined cause.

The National ALS Registry and the National ALS Biorepository are currently investigating the potential causes and risk factors of the disease.

People with ALS usually have a shortened lifespan and may die within a few years of diagnosis. Multidisciplinary ALS clinics provide specialty care to people living with the disease. Attending ALS clinics may improve the quality and length of life of people living with ALS.