ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects both the upper and lower motor neurons and eventually kills them. With the death of the motor neurons, the brain can no longer control the muscles. The muscles gradually weaken, atrophy, and have fasciculations. As the disease progresses, voluntary muscle action is lost and patients in the later stages of the disease may be completely paralyzed[6]. When the muscles of the diaphragm and chest wall fail, patients can no longer breathe without ventilatory support. It is because of this that most patients die from respiratory failure. Patients usually maintain control of eye muscles and bladder and bowel functions[1]. |