What is ALS?

ALS causes progressive paralysis by disrupting brain-muscle communication, impairing movement and essential functions.

ALS progressively paralyzes, impairing voluntary muscle movement, with no cure and limited treatment options, leading to rapid progression.

Symptoms are what you experience or feel, whereas signs are what can be seen or measured. Symptoms and signs of ALS, and the order in which they occur, vary from one person to another.

ALS is difficult to diagnose because symptoms can be similar to other diseases. A neurologist will typically diagnose ALS by reviewing symptoms and eliminating other possible diseases.

As ALS progresses, people living with the disease will find it more difficult to walk and move around. Their symptoms will gradually worsen and take away their ability to move, swallow, speak and eventually breathe.

Treatment for ALS is a multidisciplinary approach that includes education, monitoring, and timely interventions along with regular communication with your family doctor and community healthcare providers.