Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a progressive neurological disease that affects nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. It gradually affects movement, speech, swallowing, and breathing.
The early symptoms of ALS can be subtle and vary from person to person. Possible early signs include:
- Muscle weakness
- Often begins in one hand, arm, foot, or leg.
- People may notice dropping objects, difficulty gripping, or trouble with tasks like buttoning clothes.
- Muscle twitching (fasciculations)
- Small, involuntary muscle movements may occur under the skin, commonly in the arms, legs, shoulders, or tongue.
- Muscle cramps or stiffness
- Cramping, tightness, or increased muscle stiffness can appear.
- Changes in walking or balance
- Tripping more often, stumbling, or feeling less steady may occur.
- Weakness affecting speech
- Some people develop slurred speech or difficulty projecting their voice.
- Difficulty swallowing
- Trouble swallowing liquids or foods can occur, especially in some forms of ALS.
- Loss of fine motor control
- Difficulty with activities requiring precision, such as writing, typing, or using utensils.
- Unusual fatigue
- Muscle weakness may make normal activities feel more tiring.
Important to know
Many of these symptoms can also be caused by other, more common conditions, such as nerve compression, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, or other neurological disorders. Having one symptom does not mean someone has ALS.
A medical evaluation is important if there is progressive muscle weakness, persistent twitching with weakness, unexplained speech or swallowing changes, or worsening coordination. A neurologist can perform tests to determine the cause.
