Lou Gehrig’s disease is the common name for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disease that affects nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement. Early symptoms can be subtle and may vary from person to person.
Common first symptoms of ALS
- Muscle weakness
- Weakness in a hand, arm, leg, or one side of the body
- Difficulty gripping objects, buttoning clothes, or lifting items
- Tripping or stumbling more often than usual
- Muscle twitching (fasciculations)
- Small, involuntary muscle movements, often noticed in the arms, legs, shoulders, or tongue
- Muscle cramps and stiffness
- Frequent cramps
- Tight or stiff muscles
- Trouble with coordination or movement
- Changes in speech or swallowing
- Slurred speech
- Speaking more slowly or with difficulty
- Trouble chewing or swallowing (in some people, early in the disease)
- Loss of fine motor skills
- Difficulty writing, using utensils, typing, or performing detailed hand movements
- Fatigue and reduced endurance
- Muscles tiring more quickly during normal activities
Symptoms that are usually not early ALS signs
ALS typically does not affect thinking, memory, or sensation (such as feeling touch, pain, or temperature) in its early stages. However, some people can have changes in behavior or thinking related to ALS-associated conditions.
When to seek medical advice
Muscle weakness that is progressive, unexplained, or affecting daily activities should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Many symptoms that resemble early ALS can also be caused by other, more common and treatable conditions.
A neurologist usually makes the diagnosis through a combination of a medical history, physical examination, and tests such as nerve and muscle studies.
