Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Health Center

It is estimated that up to 30,000 people in the United States suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rapidly progressive and eventually fatal disease of the brain cells that control voluntary movement of the muscles. Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS causes the nerves to degenerate, and they can no longer send signals to the muscles to move. This causes the muscles to twitch and weaken, and eventually cause paralysis. When the paralysis reaches the muscles in the chest, breathing may become impossible.