Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a progressive neurological disease that affects nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. Early symptoms can be subtle and may vary from person to person.
Possible early signs of ALS include:
- Muscle weakness
- Often begins in one hand, arm, foot, or leg.
- Difficulty with tasks like buttoning clothes, gripping objects, walking, or climbing stairs.
- Muscle twitching (fasciculations)
- Small, involuntary muscle movements, commonly noticed in the arms, legs, shoulders, or tongue.
- Muscle cramps or stiffness
- Frequent cramps, tightness, or unusual stiffness may occur.
- Changes in speech or swallowing
- Slurred speech, a softer voice, or trouble swallowing can be early symptoms in some people.
- Loss of coordination or balance
- Increased clumsiness, tripping, or difficulty with fine movements.
- Unexplained muscle shrinking (atrophy)
- Affected muscles may become visibly smaller over time.
When to seek medical advice
These symptoms do not always mean ALS. Similar symptoms can result from nerve compression, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, medication effects, injuries, or other neurological conditions.
A medical evaluation is important if there is:
- progressive weakness,
- worsening muscle loss,
- persistent twitching with weakness,
- new speech or swallowing problems,
- unexplained changes in walking or coordination.
Diagnosis of ALS requires a specialist evaluation, often including a neurological exam and tests such as nerve and muscle studies. Early assessment can help identify the cause and guide appropriate care.
