AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

Understanding ALS

Some diseases present seemingly
impossible challenges. We strive to make a
difference in the lives of people living with
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by rising
to that challenge.

DISEASE STATE
Discovery


ALS was first discovered in studies conducted between 1865 and 1869 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot.1 The condition became widely known in the late 1930s as Lou Gehrig’s disease with the diagnosis of the American baseball player bearing the same name.2

ALS is a progressive and incurable neurodegenerative disease.2 The majority of patients with ALS die within two to five years of diagnosis.3

ALS causes the motor nerve cells (motor neurons) in the spinal cord, brainstem, and brain to deteriorate and die over time.2 As the body’s motor neurons are responsible for stimulating muscles into action, the degeneration of this disease leads to debilitating muscle weakness.2

absence muscle nourishment side (referring to the spine) hardening or scarring 4 absence muscle nourishment side (referring to the spine) hardening or scarring 4
Xray
Effects

ALS is referred to as a progressive disease, meaning the symptoms continue to worsen over time.2 People with ALS lose strength in their muscles and become weaker, which can limit movement.2

Over time, the brain loses its ability to initiate and control certain muscle movements, resulting in progressive weakness and paralysis.2,5 People living with ALS may eventually need assistance with speaking, eating, and breathing on their own.5

Impact

An ALS diagnosis can be devastating, not only for the person, but also for their families and caregivers. ALS impacts the whole family.

Eventually people with ALS may be unable to perform basic physical tasks, requiring a full-time caregiver (often a spouse or family member) to be present at all times.2,5 In the later stages of the disease a person with ALS may be bed/chair bound, and may be on mechanical ventilation, requiring 24/7 professional assistance.3

Stat 01 Created with Sketch.
~16 k

Americans have ALS6

Stat 02 Created with Sketch.
~5 k

Americans are diagnosed with ALS annually6

Stat 03 Created with Sketch.
90-95 %

have no family history of ALS7

ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Understanding this disease

There are no easy answers with
ALS, and every person's experience
can be different.

Learn more about ALS
REFERENCES
  1. Kumar D, Aslinia F, Yale S, et al. Jean-Martin Charcot: The Father of Neurology. Clin Med Res. 2011 Mar; 9(1): 46–49.
  2. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet. Accessed October 2018
  3. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet. Accessed October 2018
  4. ALS Association. What is ALS? Accessed October 2018
  5. Mehta P, Kaye W, Bryan L, et al. (2016). Prevalence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis — United States, 2012– 2013. MMWR Surveill Summ, 65(8), 1-12.
  6. Horton D, Graham S, Punjani R, et al. (2018). A spatial analysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases in the United States and their proximity to multidisciplinary ALS clinics, 2013. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 19:1-2, 126-133, DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2017.1406953
  7. National Institutes of Health. Genetics Home Reference: Your Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Accessed October 2018
  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Registry. Frequently Asked Questions – Questions About ALS. Accessed October 2018