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…
Last updated Dec. 1, 2022, by Teresa Carvalho, MS  Fact-checked by Inês Martins, PhD What is Rilutek for ALS? Rilutek (riluzole) is an oral treatment that works to delay the decline in respiratory function and extend survival in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The brand-name medication…
In this video, Dr. Simon Freilich gives an overview of the main type of motor neuron disease: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MORE: 16 fast facts about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Dr. Freilich explains that ALS accounts for around 85 percent of motor neuron disease cases. The…
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive tool that uses a magnetic field along with radio waves to produce detailed images of the brain, spinal cord, or other body areas. Preliminary studies suggest that MRI may help identify signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) earlier, but larger…
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons, or nerve cells controlling muscle movements. Symptoms of ALS can occur at any age but usually begin around ages 55 to 75 and progress gradually. Muscles in arms and…
Nurtec (formerly BHV-0223) is a new formulation of riluzole that is placed under the tongue and dissolves in the mouth. The therapy is being developed by Biohaven Pharmaceuticals for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). How Nurtec works Riluzole is a glutamate-modulating agent. Its exact mechanism of…
Motor neuron disease (MND) is a condition where nerve cells (motor neurons) in the brain and spinal cord stop working, damaging the nervous system and leading to muscle wastage. It’s also referred to as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MORE: 16 fast facts about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. According to the…
College students from the Oklahoma Christian University are helping an ALS sufferer communicate with his wife again. Sixty-four-year-old Carl Phelps from Oklahoma was diagnosed with bulbar onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in April 2015. The disease’s first symptoms appear in the mouth and many patients experience problems talking, eating and…
Between 1943 and 1979, miners around the world were encouraged (and in some cases forced) to inhale aluminum dust called McIntyre Powder, believing that the substance would help protect their lungs. However, a health agency in Ontario has found an alarming link between McIntyre Powder and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that causes the degeneration of motor neurons, eventually leading to a loss of movement and patients being unable to breathe without assistance. We’ve put together a list of fast facts about ALS with help from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and…
