Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's
disease, is a progressive wasting away of the nerve cells in the brain and
spinal column that control the muscles that allow movement. Over a period of
months or years, ALS causes increasing muscle weakness, inability to control
movement, and problems with speaking, swallowing, and breathing.
The cause of ALS is unknown, and there is no cure. Treatment
focuses on keeping the person as strong as possible and preventing
complications of the disease. People with ALS may eventually require ventilator
support, if they choose to have that treatment. Common causes of death in
people with ALS are pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, lung failure, or heart
failure, usually within a few years after symptoms begin. However, some people
live with the disease for many years.
