Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often called Lou Gehrig’s disease after the famous baseball player Lou Gehrig, is a progressive neurological disease that affects nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles.
Early symptoms can vary from person to person, but common first signs may include:
1. Muscle weakness
- Often begins in one area, such as a hand, arm, leg, or the muscles used for speaking.
- People may notice difficulty with tasks like buttoning clothes, gripping objects, climbing stairs, or lifting items.
2. Muscle twitching (fasciculations)
- Small, involuntary muscle twitches may appear, commonly in the arms, legs, shoulders, or tongue.
3. Stiffness and cramps
- Muscle stiffness, tightness, or frequent cramping can occur.
4. Changes in speech or swallowing
- Some people first notice slurred speech, a softer voice, trouble forming words, or difficulty swallowing.
5. Changes in coordination and movement
- Tripping, dropping things, or feeling less steady can be early signs.
6. Muscle shrinking (atrophy)
- Affected muscles may gradually become smaller due to loss of nerve supply.
ALS symptoms can overlap with many other, more common conditions. Having one of these symptoms does not mean someone has ALS. Diagnosis usually involves a neurological examination and specialized testing.
A person should seek medical evaluation for progressive, unexplained muscle weakness, especially if it is worsening over time or accompanied by speech, swallowing, or breathing difficulties.
