Can ALS cause depression?

Receiving a life-changing diagnosis of ALS can cause depression, with one-quarter of people living with ALS experiencing depression. If a person is feeling some of the symptoms of depression for two or more weeks — apathy, lack of appetite, tiredness, or feeling worthless or suicidal — it’s important to seek professional mental healthcare.

Can anxiety cause ALS?

Anxiety cannot cause ALS. Although the exact causes of ALS are not known, increased risks for developing the disease can be linked to genetics, environmental exposures, and lifestyle habits. However, living with ALS can definitely cause anxiety.

Can anxiety mimic ALS?

There are certain symptoms of anxiety that can mimic some of the symptoms of ALS, including fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. However, the main sign of ALS is muscular weakness , followed by breathing difficulties , and speech problems . Anxiety about ALS after diagnosis can make some symptoms worse, especially as the disease progresses, so it’s important to seek professional mental healthcare.

Does health insurance cover counseling for people with ALS?

In the U.S., Medicare Part B covers outpatient healthcare services and doctor’s appointments, including mental health counseling for people living with a disability such as ALS.

What are the mental health symptoms of ALS?

ALS mental health conditions include anxiety, which includes feelings of fear, dread, and uneasiness, and depression, which can cause symptoms such as irritability, lack of interest in activities, lack of energy, loss of appetite, and insomnia or oversleeping, among others. Neurodegeneration due to the disease itself may also affect the ability to control strong emotions, leading to behavioral changes.

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ALS and mental health

Navigating life with ALS has an impact not only on physical well-being but the mental health of both patients and caregivers. Therapy, medications, and emotional support groups and forums, among other strategies, can help ease the symptoms of depression or anxiety.

May 25, 2023 Columns by Kristin Neva

The ways music has comforted us while living with ALS

A friend who visited Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for a serious health issue posted a video on social media of a string quartet playing in the towering glass atrium of the Gonda Building there. It brought back memories of when my husband, Todd, and I went to Mayo for…

You are not alone: Words of wisdom from the ALS community

It's easy to feel isolated when dealing with a chronic disease like ALS, but help and support is available. For those who may need a little extra guidance or reassurance, we’ve compiled a variety of tips and advice from our ALS community that you may find useful.

May 25, 2023 News by Mary Chapman

PatientsLikeMe ALS contribution expands free PRO-ACT database

The data platform PatientsLikeMe (PLM) has made its de-identified amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient database available to scientists around the world to advance clinical research in the neurodegenerative disorder. Part of a collaboration between PLM and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the…

May 25, 2023 by Bionews Staff

As an ALS caregiver, I learned the true meaning of strength

Britley Wells and Brian Jeansonne. (Photo courtesy of Britley Wells) This is Britley Wells’ story: Hi there! My name is Britley Wells, and I am a trauma intensive care registered nurse at University Medical Center New Orleans. In early January, I had the privilege of meeting the…

May 23, 2023 Columns by Dagmar Munn

Lessons learned from my ALS awareness experiences

A few months after I learned I had ALS, I was invited to participate in a walkathon to help raise funds for the ALS Association. I’m sure my curt reply of “No, thank you” came as a shock to the person inviting me. At the time, I had…

May 23, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS

Some sporadic ALS patients have mutation causing other diseases

A sizable portion of people with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) carry a genetic mutation known to cause other neurological disorders, a new study shows. “This suggests shared risk factors among these diseases, shared mechanisms that cause nerves to die – and perhaps shared therapeutic strategies in the future,”…

May 22, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD

PARADIGM trial of PrimeC for ALS now fully enrolled with 69 adults

A Phase 2b trial of PrimeC for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has completed patient enrollment, according to NeuroSense Therapeutics, the therapy’s developer. Called PARADIGM (NCT05357950), the study enrolled 69 adults diagnosed with ALS, ages 18-75, at sites in Israel, Italy, and Canada. The company…

May 19, 2023 Columns by Juliet Taylor

Why last week was special in the ALS community

I love inspirational quotes and sayings. Throughout my life, I’ve stumbled upon passages from books or snippets of speeches from public figures and recognized them as a helpful way for me to understand or think about a current challenge in life. In some cases, they’ve served as mantras — easy…

May 19, 2023 by Bionews Staff

To families affected by ALS, Hope Loves Company offers hope, support

Jodi O’Donnell-Ames founded Hope Loves Company after losing her husband to ALS. (Courtesy of Jodi O’Donnell-Ames) This is Jodi O’Donnell-Ames’ story: The term amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was not a part of my vocabulary until May 1995. That’s when my husband, Kevin O’Donnell, was diagnosed with…