ALS

E24881

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and ultimately respiratory failure.

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Observed surface forms (2)

Surface form Occurrences
Lou Gehrig's disease 2
ALS foundations 1

Statements (68)

Predicate Object
instanceOf motor neuron disease
neurodegenerative disease
progressive disease
affects brain
lower motor neurons
spinal cord
upper motor neurons
voluntary muscles
alsoKnownAs Lou Gehrig's disease
associatedWithGene C9orf72
FUS
SOD1
TARDBP
canBeAssociatedWith frontotemporal dementia
canLeadTo complete paralysis
death from respiratory failure
causes muscle atrophy
muscle weakness
paralysis
respiratory failure
spasticity
diagnosedBy clinical evaluation
electromyography
exclusion of other conditions
nerve conduction studies
doesNotTypicallyAffect bladder control early in disease
sensory neurons
fullName amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
hasCommonInitialPresentation asymmetric limb weakness
bulbar onset symptoms
hasFamilialForm familial ALS
hasIncidence about 1–2 per 100000 person-years
hasMedianSurvival 2–5 years after symptom onset
hasNo known cure
hasPathology TDP-43 protein aggregates
corticospinal tract degeneration
degeneration of motor neurons
hasPrevalence about 4–6 per 100000 people
hasRiskFactor certain genetic mutations
family history of ALS
male sex
older age
hasSporadicForm sporadic ALS
hasSymptom difficulty walking
dysarthria
dysphagia
fasciculations
hand weakness
muscle cramps
shortness of breath
hasTreatment edaravone
riluzole
supportive care
hasTreatmentGoal maintain quality of life
slow disease progression
symptom management
hasTypicalOnsetAge late adulthood
middle adulthood
isClassifiedUnder 335.20 (ICD-9-CM)
G12.21 (ICD-10)
G12.21 (ICD-10-CM)
isRecognizedBy National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
World Health Organization
isSubsetOf motor neuron diseases
isUsually fatal
moreCommonIn males
proportionFamilial 5–10 percent of cases
proportionSporadic 90–95 percent of cases

Referenced by (8)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

subject surface form: Lou Gehrig
subject surface form: Lou Gehrig
this entity surface form: Lou Gehrig's disease
this entity surface form: Lou Gehrig's disease
this entity surface form: ALS foundations