als, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
, is a progressive disease of the nervous system that slowly robs the brain of its ability to communicate and control the voluntary muscles of the body. over time, the motor neurons that enable communication and movement break down and die, causing muscles to weaken and waste away. this gradually deprives patients of the ability to walk, talk, swallow and, eventually, breathe. als is commonly referred to as lou gehrig’s disease after the new york yankees first baseman who was forced to retire after developing the disease in 1939. he died a few years after being diagnosed.
symptoms of als
als generally begins with muscle weakness that spreads throughout the body, but specific signs and symptoms vary from person to person.
according to the als society of canada
, some of the most common include: muscle cramps and twitching in the arms and legs, muscle stiffness or rigidity, weakness, difficulty standing or walking and an increased likelihood of tripping, slurred speech, weight loss or decreased muscle tone, increased or decreased reflexes, shortness of breath, and uncontrollable laughing, crying or yawning.
the disease does not typically affect a patient’s ability to see, hear, touch, smell or taste. most patients do not experience a loss of sexual, bowel or bladder functions but around 10 per cent develop dementia at some point during the course of the disease.
diagnosing als
no one is sure exactly what causes als but it is believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors,
according to the mayo clinic
. the risk of developing als increases over time, with most patients being diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 65. smoking is also believed to be a risk factor, particularly among women who have already gone through menopause.
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