What is ALS disorder?

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive motor neuron disease in which nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord degenerate, leading to muscle weakness, wasting, and ultimately respiratory failure. 

Symptoms commonly start with limb weakness, cramps, fasciculations, dysarthria (slurred speech), or dysphagia (swallowing difficulty). Cognition is usually preserved early, but some patients develop frontotemporal features. 

Most cases are sporadic; ~5–10% are familial with genes like SOD1, C9orf72 implicated. There is no cure; management includes riluzole/edaravone in selected cases, noninvasive ventilation, multidisciplinary rehab, and supportive nutrition. 

Median survival is typically 2–5 years from symptom onset, though variability exists. For exams, write: “ALS = progressive UMN+LMN degeneration → weakness and atrophy; cause largely unknown; symptomatic and supportive treatment; prognosis guarded.”