A 46-year-old member asked:
what exactly is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Bennett Machanic answered
Neurology 52 years experience
Lou Gehrig's disease: Als is a disease affecting the nerve cell body, causes weakness, muscle wasting, and fasciculations or fluttering of the muscles. It can affect mobility, swallowing, and breathing. There is no known cure to date, and the prognosis is often very poor. We believe it is a disorder of "misfolded proteins", similar in some ways to alzheimer's and parkinson's, but a far rarer condition, fortunately.
5678 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 21-year-old member asked:
What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als)?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ryan Stanton answered
Emergency Medicine 18 years experience
Lou Gehrig's Disease: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als), also referred to as lou gehrig's disease is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of neurons leading to progressive weakness and eventually death.
6056 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als)? Can it be treated?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Bennett Machanic answered
Neurology 52 years experience
Lou Gehrig's disease: Als is a disease affecting the nerve cell body, causes weakness, muscle wasting, and fasciculations or fluttering of the muscles. It can affect mobility, swallowing, and breathing. There is no known cure to date, and the prognosis is often very poor. We believe it is a disorder of "misfolded proteins", similar in some ways to alzheimer's and parkinson's, but a far rarer condition, fortunately.
5678 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
What's are future treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als)?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Bennett Machanic answered
Neurology 52 years experience
Hope it arrives.: There is a lot of research and we have identified a misfolded protein as playing a role (superoxide dismutase). But we do not have a cure. Best we can do is Riluzole and palliative supportive care at this time. However, a variety of meds and approaches are being studied. Stayed tuned.
5596 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Need doctor's help! what can you tell me about als(amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Bennett Machanic answered
Neurology 52 years experience
Need expert help: Als is indeed a bad disease, as there is no cure, and only minimal modest interventions. It is a disorder of unknown cause, but 10% are genetic with 25% of these having problems with copper/zinc superoxide dismutase. It is a disorder of the motor nerve cell resulting in muscle atrophy, weakness, fasciculations, and terminal swallowing and breathing problems. The drug Riluzole may delay outcomes.
4614 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
My mom has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (lou gehrigs). What is this exactly?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Bennett Machanic answered
Neurology 52 years experience
Bad disease: ALS damages the motor nerve cell in brain and spinal cord causing progressive arm and leg weakness, muscle flickering, with progressive disability. If the disease affects the lower part of the brain, problems with tongue atrophy, swallowing, and breathing can create major crises, and even need for tracheostomy. The sole available drug, Riluzole does delay trach, but no effect on strength.
3669 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Last updated Mar 25, 2013
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