Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Nervous system and special senses
Adverse effects of drugs on the nervous system
Cerebrovascular disease
Congenital disorders
Cranial and peripheral nerve disorders
Degenerative disorders or amnesic syndromes
Demyelinating disorders
Disorders relating to the spine, spinal cord, and spinal nerve roots
Global cerebral dysfunction
Infectious, immunologic, and inflammatory disorders
Metabolic disorders
Movement disorders
Neurologic pain syndromes
Neuromuscular disorders
Paroxysmal disorders
Sleep disorders
Traumatic and mechanical disorders and disorders of increased intracranial pressure
Disorders of the ear
Disorders of the eye and eyelid
Nervous system and special senses pathology review
Key Takeaways
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that affects both upper and lower motor neurons. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of these motor neurons leads to muscle weakness and atrophy.
ALS symptoms typically develop slowly over time. Early symptoms may include muscle weakness or stiffness, difficulty speaking, swallowing, or breathing. As the disease progresses, patients lose their ability to move and speak and eventually require total care. In some cases, people with ALS live for many years after diagnosis; however, most people with ALS die within a few years of diagnosis.