Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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Symptoms & Signs

Symptoms usually do not develop until until after age 50. Progressive loss of muscle strength and coordination eventually interfere with the ability to perform routine activities, such as going up steps, getting out of a chair, or swallowing. Occasionally, breathing or swallowing muscles may be the first to be affected.

As the disease progresses, more muscle groups are affected and patients become progressively incapacitated. There is no effect on the ability to think or reason.

Symptoms include:

• muscle weakness, decrease in muscle strength and coordination
  • gradual onset
  • progressively worsens
  • commonly involves one limb initially (such as the hand)
  • progresses to difficulty lifting, climbing stairs and walking
• paralysis
• muscle cramps
• voice changes, hoarseness
• speech impairment, slow or abnormal speech pattern
• difficulty swallowing, gags or chokes easily
• difficulty breathing (increasing effort required to breathe)
• head drop due to weak spinal and neck muscles

• muscle contractions
• muscle spasms
• muscle atrophy
• ankle, feet and leg swelling
• weight loss
• drooling