Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig's Disease, Maladie de Charcot or motor neurone disease) is a progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disease caused by the degeneration of motor neurons, the nerve cells in the central nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement. The disorder causes muscle weakness and atrophy throughout the body as both the upper and lower motor neurons degenerate and die, ceasing to send messages to muscles. Unable to function, the muscles gradually weaken, atrophy, and develop fasciculations (twitches) because of denervation. Eventually, the brain completely loses its ability to initiate and control voluntary movement. The disease does not necessarily debilitate the patient's mental functioning in the same manner as Alzheimer's disease or other neurological conditions. Rather, those suffering advanced stages of the disease may retain the same memories, personality, and intelligence they had before its onset.

ALS TDI :: What is ALS?

The ALS Therapy Development Institute is dedicated to discovering and developing treatments for ... What is ALS? Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a ...

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ALS TDI

Using entrepreneurial spirit and techniques to seek out and develop promising therapies to slow, arrest and cure ALS.

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