Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Synonyms
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Parkinsonism Dementia Complex 1
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis With Dementia
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Guam Form
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinsonism Dementia Complex of Guam
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinsonism-Dementia Complex of Guam
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Parkinsonism-Dementia Complex 1
Charcot Disease
Dementia With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Disease, Guam
Disease, Lou-Gehrigs
Gehrig Disease
Gehrig's Disease
Gehrigs Disease
Guam Disease
Guam Form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Lou Gehrig Disease
Lou Gehrig's Disease
Lou-Gehrigs Disease
Motor Neuron Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral
A degenerative disorder affecting upper MOTOR NEURONS in the brain and lower motor neurons in the brain stem and SPINAL CORD. Disease onset is usually after the age of 50 and the process is usually fatal within 3 to 6 years. Clinical manifestations include progressive weakness, atrophy, FASCICULATION, hyperreflexia, DYSARTHRIA, dysphagia, and eventual paralysis of respiratory function. Pathologic features include the replacement of motor neurons with fibrous ASTROCYTES and atrophy of anterior SPINAL NERVE ROOTS and corticospinal tracts. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1089-94)