What is ALS? Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also called
Lou Gehrig's Disease or Motor Neuron Disease, is a progressive,
neuromuscular disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in
the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons, among the largest of
all nerve cells, reach from the brain to the spinal cord and
from the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body. When these
motor neurons die, the brain can no longer start and control
muscle movement. At this time there is no cure for the disease;
however, over the past decade, we have made amazing strides in
our understanding of the brain, the nervous system and genetics.
Discoveries in each of these areas bring hope to people with ALS
(PALS) and their families that some day a cure will be found.
Amyotrophic comes from the Greek language. "A" means no or
negative. "Myo" refers to muscle, and "trophic" means
nourishment--"no muscle nourishment." When a muscle receives no
nourishment, it atrophies or wastes away. "Lateral" identifies
the areas in a person's spi