ALS Center at Texas Neurology
Sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)

Daragh Heitzman, M.D.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease and Motor Neuron Disease.

The ALS Center is now a part of the Northeast Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Consortium.

Features of ALS
In general, ALS is a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disease producing weakness of the muscles. Almost any part of the body can be affected, including the muscles of the arms and legs, as well as those that control either speech, swallowing, or breathing. Some patients may also have minor either emotional, behavioral, or thinking problems. Most patients with ALS have fasciculations, which are involuntary painless muscle twitches. ALS patients have changes in their skin, making them resistant to getting bed sores. Eye movements and sensation are typically preserved. Pain is usually either nonexistent or minimal.

Persons with ALS are typically in their 5th or 6th decade of life. Both men and women are affected. Most often this disease occurs for unknown reasons (sporadic ALS), while about 5-10% of the time, the disease is inherited (familial ALS).