ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig's disease, Charcot disease) is a specific neurodegeneration (i.e. disorder that involves the death of neurons).

• Spasticity (stiff muscles)
• Fasciculation (muscle twitching)
• Gradually worsening weakness, due to muscle wasting
• This causes:
  • Dysarthria (difficulty speaking)
  • Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
  • Difficulty breathing, eventually

• The cause is not known in 90-95% of cases
• About 5-10% of cases are inherited from a person’s parents
• About 50% of these genetic cases are due to 1 of 2 specific genes

• It results in the death of the neurons that control voluntary muscles

• The diagnosis is based on a person’s Sx with testing done to rule out other potential causes

• Motor neuron disease (category, although sometimes a synonym)