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4 Treatments That Can Improve Life With ALS

Currently, there isn’t a treatment available to cure or reverse amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) but there are treatments available that can help improve quality of life for those living with the disease. According to the ALS Therapy Development Institute, these include: Medications for symptoms Medications can be used…

What Are Fasciculations in ALS?

Many people suffer from fasciculations or muscle twitching, and most of the time, it’s caused by drinking too much coffee, a lack of sleep or a trapped nerve. However, repeated episodes of fasciculations could be a sign of a neuromuscular disorder such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MORE: An overview…

4 Tests That Help Diagnose ALS

There isn’t one test that doctors can use to determine if a person has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Instead, doctors need to perform a series of tests to eliminate other similar neurological diseases and to arrive at an ALS diagnosis. The process can be slow, taking an average of 12 to 14 months…

The Cost of Neuromuscular Disorders in the U.S.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association, in collaboration with the Lewin Group, has calculated the average cost of caring for three of the most common neuromuscular disorders. MORE: Most with chronic conditions find the Affordable Care Act beneficial The study looks at both medical and non-medical costs associated…

4 Things to Consider Before Getting a Service Dog

Having a service dog can greatly enhance the life of someone living with a chronic disease. They allow patients to regain some of their independence by helping with small everyday tasks like opening and closing doors, fetching meds, acting as a prop or support as their owner stands, switching on lights and attracting attention…

An Overview of the Signs and Symptoms of ALS

In this video from the ALS Association, discover some of the signs and symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The film explains that the symptoms often appear very slowly at first and can vary greatly from person to person. MORE: Do firefighters have an increased risk…

What Research Is Being Done on ALS?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is one of the world’s leading funders of research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Its goals are to better understand the cellular mechanisms which lead to the development and subsequent progression of ALS, discover more about the…