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Health A-Z

Medical Content Created by the Faculty of the
Harvard Medical School

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

What Is It?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, causes a slow degeneration (breakdown) of nerve cells of the spinal cord, brain and brain stem, the bottom portion of the brain near the spinal cord. This degeneration affects only nerve cells that control muscle movements (motor neurons), causing the person to gradually lose the ability to control his or her muscles. The disease is rare, with new cases reported at a yearly rate of about 1.5 to 3 per 100,000 people.

Although the cause of ALS remains unknown, risk factors include advancing age and family history. ALS generally strikes patients between the ages of 50 and 70, and affects men slightly more often than women. About 5% to 10% of cases appear to be inherited and current evidence suggests that certain genes may increase the risk of the illness.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, causes a slow degeneration (breakdown) of nerve cells of the spinal cord, brain and brain stem, the bottom portion of the brain near the spinal cord. This degeneration affects only nerve cells that control muscle movements (motor neurons), causing the person to gradually lose the ability to control his or her muscles. The disease is rare, with new cases reported at a yearly rate of about 1.5 to 3 per 100,000 people.

Although the cause of ALS remains unknown, risk factors include advancing age and family history. ALS generally strikes patients between the ages of 50 and 70, and affects men slightly more often than women. About 5% to 10% of cases appear to be inherited and current evidence suggests that certain genes may increase the risk of the illness.

From Health A-Z, Harvard Health Publications. Copyright 2007 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Written permission is required to reproduce, in any manner, in whole or in part, the material contained herein. To make a reprint request, contact Harvard Health Publications. Used with permission of StayWell.

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