Is ALS more common in men or women?
ALS is 20 percent more common in men than in women. However, with increasing age, the incidence of ALS is more equal between men and women. About 90 percent of ALS cases occur without family history.
Is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis more common in males or females?
ALS is 20 percent more common in men than in women. However, with increasing age, this gender difference in ALS cases narrows. Generally, ALS occurs in greater percentages as both men and women grow older.
What is the average age of someone with ALS?
Most people who develop ALS are between the ages of 40 and 70, with an average age of 55 at the time of diagnosis. However, cases of the disease do occur in people in their twenties and thirties. ALS is 20 percent more common in men than in women. However, with increasing age, the incidence of ALS is more equal between men and women.
What are the risk factors for ALS?
Common risk factors include: Even though the condition can strike at any age, ALS symptoms most commonly appear between 55 and 75. Non-Hispanics and Caucasians are most likely to have the condition. Men are slightly more likely to have the disease compared to women. Nevertheless, as people age, the difference between men and women vanishes.
What gender is more likely to get ALS?
ALS is slightly more common in men than women. ALS is age related; most people find out they have it when they are between 55 and 75 years of age, and live from 2 to 5 years after symptoms develop.
Who is most likely to get ALS?
Risk factors for ALS include:Age. Although the disease can strike at any age, symptoms most commonly develop between the ages of 55 and 75.Gender. Men are slightly more likely than women to develop ALS. ... Race and ethnicity. Caucasians and non-Hispanics are most likely to develop the disease.
What race is ALS most common in?
Of the 5883 unique ALS cases identified, 74.8% were white, 9.3% were African-American/black, 3.6% were Asian, 12.0% were an unknown race, and 0.3% were marked as some other race. For ethnicity, 77.5% were defined as non-Hispanic, 10.8% Hispanic, and 11.7% were of unknown ethnicity.
How can you avoid getting ALS?
There is no definite method to prevent ALS. However, people with ALS can participate in clinical trials, the National ALS Registry, and the National ALS Biorepository. This participation may help researchers learn about potential causes and risk factors of the disease.
Is ALS caused by stress?
Psychological stress does not appear to play a part in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with patients showing similar levels of prior stressful events, occupational stress, and anxiety as a control group, as well as higher resilience, a study shows.
Is ALS becoming more common?
Here we show that the number of ALS cases across the globe will increase from 222,801 in 2015 to 376,674 in 2040, representing an increase of 69%. This increase is predominantly due to ageing of the population, particularly among developing nations.
Will I get ALS if I have the gene?
A positive genetic test is not a diagnosis and cannot predict when (or if!) someone will develop ALS. Even if you have a relative who has a mutation in one of these genes, you may not inherit ALS. This is because familial ALS is usually passed down in an autosomal dominant pattern.
What is the main cause of ALS?
The causes of ALS are unknown at present, but researchers are focusing on several possible theories, including gene mutations, overabundance of the neurotransmitter glutamate (which can be toxic to nerve cells), autoimmune response (in which the body's immune system attacks normal cells) and the gradual accumulation of ...
What is the main cause of ALS?
The causes of ALS are unknown at present, but researchers are focusing on several possible theories, including gene mutations, overabundance of the neurotransmitter glutamate (which can be toxic to nerve cells), autoimmune response (in which the body's immune system attacks normal cells) and the gradual accumulation of ...
What are the first warning signs of ALS?
Some common early symptoms include:Stumbling.A hard time holding items with your hands.Slurred speech.Swallowing problems.Muscle cramps.Worsening posture.A hard time holding your head up.Muscle stiffness.
Who is affected by ALS?
Most people who develop ALS are between the ages of 40 and 70, although the disease can occur at a younger age. It occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic or socioeconomic boundaries. It affects as many as 30,000 in the United States, with 5,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
Why do people get ALS?
The exact cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is largely unknown, but genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors are all believed to play a role. The neurodegenerative disease is characterized by the death of motor neurons, which are the nerve cells that control muscle movements.
What percentage of ALS cases are inherited?
About 90 percent of ALS cases occur without family history, which is known as sporadic ALS. The remaining 10 percent of ALS cases are inherited through a mutated gene, which is known as familial ALS.
How often is ALS diagnosed?
Genetic Testing for ALS. Who Gets ALS? Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with the disease and someone passes away from it. Most people who develop ALS are between the ages of 40 and 70, with an average age of 55 at the time of diagnosis.
What age group is most affected by ALS?
ALS most commonly affects people of any racial or ethnic group between the ages of 40 and 70, although it can occur at a younger age. There are 2 main types of ALS: Sporadic. This is the most common form of ALS in the U.S., making up 90% to 95% of all cases.
How does ALS affect you?
ALS will eventually lead to disability and death. Although your ability to move and breathe independently will be affected, your intelligence and ability to think is not. You and your family will work closely with your healthcare provider to manage symptoms as they develop. Use of the medicine may prolong your life by a few months, particularly if you have trouble swallowing. Discuss ways to make living spaces more accessible, and use of mobility devices and wheelchairs. It’s very important to discuss end-of-life decisions with your loved ones.
What is ALS?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal type of motor neuron disease. It is characterized by progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. It's often called Lou Gehrig's disease, after a famous baseball player who died from the disease. ALS it is one of the most devastating of the disorders that affects the function of nerves and muscles.
What causes ALS?
Experts do not know the cause of ALS. In a few cases, genetics is involved. ALS research is looking into possible environmental causes of ALS.
How is ALS diagnosed?
There is no specific test to diagnose ALS. Your healthcare provider will consider your medical history and symptoms and will do certain tests to rule out other conditions including:
What are the complications of ALS?
In time, you will need help with personal care, eating, and mobility. Movement of the diaphragm for breathing is also impaired. You may need a ventilator for breathing. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure.
How is ALS treated?
For most people with ALS, the main treatment may involve the management of symptoms, This may include physical, occupational, speech, respiratory, and nutritional therapies. Some medicines, and heat or whirlpool therapy may help relieve muscle cramping. Exercise, in moderation, may help maintain muscle strength and function.
Which ethnic group is more likely to develop ALS?
Moreover, Caucasians and non-Hispanics are more likely to develop ALS compared with other ethnic groups. According to the ALS Patient Care Database, 93 percent of ALS patients were Caucasian, but this may be due to more cases being recorded for Caucasians than other ethnic groups.
How does ALS affect the future?
The future of ALS. Many ALS patients are living longer and more productive lives thanks to advances in research that increased understanding of the causes of ALS. Patient survival has also increased with improvements in medical management, including support for nutrition and breathing.
What is ALS in neuroscience?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurological disease that results in the death of nerve cells called motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. These neurons control voluntary muscles.
How long do ALS patients live?
More than half of all ALS patients live more than three years after diagnosis, 20 percent live five years or more, up to 10 percent live more than 10 years, and about five percent live 20 years or more.
How old is the average person with ALS?
Incidence of ALS. ALS can affect anyone worldwide regardless of racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic status. In general, symptoms commonly develop between the ages of 40 and 70, with the average being 55 years at diagnosis. The disease is most common among people 60 years or older, but nearly 10 percent of ALS patients are 45 or younger.
How do you know if you have ALS?
The early symptoms of ALS include muscle weakness or stiffness in the hands, feet, legs, and ankles; difficulty walking, swallowing, or holding the head up; muscle cramps; twitching in the arms, shoulders, and tongue; and slurred speech.
What is ALS news today?
ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
How does ALS affect older people?
The older individual affected by ALS will gradually lose control, promoting weak grip, poor balance, and trouble talking. These indications make it difficult for them to do regular tasks such as securing clothes, opening a bottle, and numerous activities.
Who Can Get ALS?
ALS affects individuals of all races and ethnic backgrounds. Common risk factors include:
What is limb onset ALS?
It is usually termed limb onset ALS if the symptoms start in the arms or legs. If the case influences the speech first, most specialists refer to it as bulbar onset ALS.
What is ALS in medical terms?
Otherwise called Lou Gehrig’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurological condition that destroys motor neurons in the body. These neurons are essential for muscle movement, such as walking, talking, breathing, eating, and drinking.
What are the early symptoms of ALS?
Some of the early symptoms of ALS include stiffness and weakness in muscles, legs, and ankles, stumbling and falling, and slurred speech. ALS patients may not go through similar symptoms as they fluctuate from one individual to another. In addition, these stages of ALS progress differently depending upon the individual body.
How many stages of ALS are there?
The motor neurons in ALS patients will gradually progress through the seven stages. Eventually, it decreases the person’s ability to walk, speak, write, and breathe, causing a shortened life expectancy.
How do you know if you have ALS?
You can determine the early stages of ALS by the early symptoms such as muscle weakness, tightness, stiffness, and cramping. These indications generally begin when the individual is around 50 or 60 years old.
How many people get ALS each year?
There is currently no cure for the disease. Based on U.S. population studies, a little over 5,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year.
Why do people with ALS live longer?
There is some evidence that people with ALS are living longer, at least partially due to clinical management interventions and possibly other compounds and drugs under investigation.
How many ALS cases are inherited?
About 90 percent of ALS cases occur without family history. The remaining 10 percent of ALS cases are inherited through a mutated gene.
What is the FDA approved treatment for ALS?
Only four drugs are currently FDA-approved to treat ALS: Riluzole, Nuedexta, Radicava, and Tiglutik. Nuedexta is approved to treat pseudobulbar affect, difficulty with emotional control, including inappropriate laughing and crying, which impacts some people with ALS.
What is the best treatment for ALS?
Only four drugs are currently FDA-approved to treat ALS: Riluzole, Nuedexta, Radicava, and Tiglutik. Nuedexta is approved to treat pseudobulbar affect, difficulty with emotional control, including inappropriate laughing and crying, which impacts some people with ALS.
How much does it cost to develop a drug to slow the progression of ALS?
The estimated cost to develop a drug to slow or stop the progression of ALS is between $2 billion and $3 billion from an idea to an approved drug.
What are the symptoms of ALS?
The onset of ALS often involves muscle weakness or stiffness as early symptoms. Progression of weakness, wasting, and paralysis of the muscles of the limbs and trunk, as well as those that control vital functions such as speech, swallowing, and breathing, generally follows.
How does ALS affect the brain?
ALS rapidly destroys those neurons, preventing them from working correctly. Eventually, ALS destroys the neurons completely. When this happens, the body can’t respond to commands from the brain, and individuals with late-stage ALS become paralyzed.
How many people with ALS have cognitive changes?
However, according to the ALS Foundation, it’s been estimated that up to 50 percent of people with ALS may experience some mild to moderate cognitive or behavioral changes due to the disease.
What is ALS in the body?
Basics about ALS. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a chronic, progressive disease. It affects the motor neurons of the nervous system, which are located near the spinal cord. In a healthy body, motor neurons send signals throughout the body, telling muscles and body systems how to work. ALS rapidly destroys those neurons, preventing them ...
What tests are done to determine if you have ALS?
If ALS is suspected, your doctor may order electrodiagnostic tests, such as an electromyography or a nerve conduction study. These tests provide information on the transmission of nerve signals to your muscles and can show certain patterns that are consistent with a diagnosis of ALS.
How many people are affected by MS?
MS is estimated to affect over 2.3 million people worldwide, with approximately 1 million of them in the United States.
Can MS cause ALS?
difficulty moving the limbs. However, the symptoms then become quite different as the conditions progress. People with MS often experience cognitive problems , which is rare with ALS. People with ALS typically develop greater physical difficulties.
Is MS more affected than ALS?
In MS, mental capabilities are usually more affected than in ALS.
How many people have ALS?
Although no one knows for sure, reports almost 16,000 people in the United States have ALS as of 2014; every year doctors tell about 5,000 people that they have it. Because records on ALS have not been kept throughout the country, it is hard to estimate the number of ALS cases in the United States. ALS is slightly more common in men than women. ALS is age related; most people find out they have it when they are between 55 and 75 years of age, and live from 2 to 5 years after symptoms develop. How long a person lives with ALS seems to be related to age; people who are younger when the illness starts live slightly longer. To read the latest prevalence of ALS for 2014, click here .
What is ALS?
ALS is a disease that affects the nerve cells that make muscles work in both the upper and lower parts of the body. This disease makes the nerve cells stop working and die. The nerves lose the ability to trigger specific muscles, which causes the muscles to become weak and leads to paralysis.
What causes ALS?
No one knows what causes most cases of ALS. Scientists have been studying many factors that could be linked with ALS such as heredity and environmental exposures. Other scientists have looked at diet or injury. Although no cause has been found for most cases of ALS, a number of inherited factors have been found to cause familial ALS. In the future, scientists may find that many factors together cause ALS.
Is ALS related to age?
ALS is age related; most people with ALS find out they have it when they are between 55 and 75 years of age
Can ALS be inherited?
This is called familial ALS and it means that two or more people in a family have ALS. These cases are caused by several inherited factors. The most common is in a gene called SOD1.
How long do people with familial ALS live?
People with familial ALS usually do not fare as well as a person with ALS who are not related, and typically live only one to two years after symptoms appear.
What are the problems with studying possible clusters of ALS?
The cause of most cases of ALS is unknown so we don’t know what to look for in a person’s past.We do not have current or complete data on the number of people with ALS. As a result, we cannot determine the “normal” or “expected” number of cases among a group of people or in a specific area. The expected number of cases of a disease is often found in an existing disease registry, as with cancer. However, there are no registries or ongoing tracking efforts for ALS in the United States.The small number of cases in a possible cluster limits the ability to tell the difference between the number of cases that would occur naturally by chance and a number of cases that is greater than would be expected. Studies with large numbers of people are needed to determine the causes of such a disease.
What Is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurological disease that primarily affects the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement (those muscles we choose to move). Voluntary muscles produce movements like chewing, walking, and talking. The disease is progressive, meaning the symptoms get worse over time. Currently, there is no cure for ALS a…
What Are The Symptoms?
- The onset of ALS can be so subtle that the symptoms are overlooked but gradually these symptoms develop into more obvious weakness or atrophy. Early symptomsinclude: 1. Muscle twitches in the arm, leg, shoulder, or tongue 2. Muscle cramps 3. Tight and stiff muscles (spasticity) 4. Muscle weakness affecting an arm, a leg, the neck, or diaphragm 5. Slurred and n…
Who Gets ALS?
- ALS is a common neuromuscular disease worldwide. It affects people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. Risk factors for ALS include: 1. Age. Although the disease can strike at any age, symptoms most commonly develop between the ages of 55 and 75. 2. Gender. Men are slightly more likely than women to develop ALS. However, as people age the differen...
What Causes ALS?
- The cause of ALS is not known, and scientists do not yet know why ALS strikes some people and not others. However, scientific evidence suggests that both genetics and environment play a role in motor neuron degeneration and the development of ALS. Genetics In 1993, scientists supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) discovered tha…
How Is Als Diagnosed?
- There is no single test that provides a definitive diagnosis of ALS. It is primarily diagnosed based on a detailed history of the symptoms observed by a physician during physical examination, along with a review of the individual’s full medical history and a series of tests to rule out other diseases. A neurologic examination at regular intervals can assess whether symptoms such as muscle we…
How Is Als Treated?
- There is no treatment to reverse damage to motor neurons or cure ALS. However, treatments can help control symptoms, prevent unnecessary complications, and make living with the disease easier. Supportive health care is best provided by multidisciplinary teams of professionals such as physicians; pharmacists; physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapists; nutritionists…
What Research Is Being done?
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is the primary federal funder of research on the brain and nervous system, including disorders such as ALS. NINDS is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the leading supporter of biomedical research in the world. The goals of NINDS’s ALS research are to understand the cellular mechanisms inv…
How Can I Be Involved in Research?
- National ALS Registry The National ALS Registry is a program to collect, manage, and analyze data about people with ALS in the United States. Developed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), this registry establishes information about the number of ALS cases, collects demographic, occupational an…
Where Can I Get More Information?
- For more information on neurological disorders or research programs funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, contact the Institute’s Brain Resources and Information Network (BRAIN) at: BRAIN P.O. Box 5801 Bethesda, MD 20824 800-352-9424 Information also is available from the following organizations: The ALS Association(link is extern…
What Are The Symptoms of ALS?
- With ALS, you may first have weakness in a limb that develops over a matter of days or, more commonly, a few weeks. Then, several weeks to months later, weakness develops in another limb. Sometimes the initial problem can be one of slurred speech or trouble swallowing. As ALS progresses, though, more and more symptoms are noticed. These are the mos...
How Is Als Diagnosed?
- There is no specific test to diagnose ALS. Your healthcare provider will consider your medical history and symptoms and will do certain tests to rule out other conditions including: 1. Lab tests. These include blood and urine studies and thyroid functioning tests. 2. Muscle or nerve biopsy. In this procedure, your doctor removes a sample of tissue or cells from the body and examines it u…
What Are The Complications of ALS?
- There is no cure for ALS. Over a period of 3 to 5 years, the disease will progress, making voluntary movements of arms and legs impossible. In time, you will need help with personal care, eating, and mobility. Movement of the diaphragm for breathing is also impaired. You may need a ventilator for breathing. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure.
How Is Als Treated?
- For most people with ALS, the main treatment may involve the management of symptoms, This may include physical, occupational, speech, respiratory, and nutritional therapies. Some medicines, and heat or whirlpool therapy may help relieve muscle cramping. Exercise, in moderation, may help maintain muscle strength and function. There is no cure and no proven tre…
Progression of Als
- The early symptomsof ALS include muscle weakness or stiffness in the hands, feet, legs, and ankles; difficulty walking, swallowing, or holding the head up; muscle cramps; twitching in the arms, shoulders, and tongue; and slurred speech. This is generally followed by progressive weakness, wasting, and paralysis of the muscles of the limbs and trunk, as well as loss of contro…
Forms of Als
- The most common form of ALS is called sporadic ALS because it occurs spontaneously without any known family history or associated genetic or environmental risk factors. In the U.S., sporadic ALS represents 90 percent or moreof all ALS cases. Another form of ALS is called familial ALS (FALS), which is inherited from the parents and comprises 5–10 percent of ALS cas…
Incidence of Als
- ALS can affect anyone worldwide regardless of racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic status. In general, symptoms commonly develop between the ages of 40 and 70, with the average being 55 years at diagnosis. The disease is most common among people 60 years or older, but nearly 10 percent of ALS patients are 45 or younger. Although ALS is 20 percent more ...
Mortality and Life Expectancy
- Estimates suggest that ALS is responsible for as many as five in every 100,000 deathsin people 20 years or older. Although the average life expectancyof a person with ALS is about two to five years from the time of diagnosis, some people can live with the disease for more than five years. More than half of all ALS patients live more than three years after diagnosis, 20 percent live five …
Cost of Living For Patients
- ALS patients incur substantial costs for medical care, equipment, and home healthcare. The medical costs are substantial and increase rapidly and substantially as the disease progresses, so patients should learn about their health plan coverage, and other programs for which they may be eligible, including Social Security Disability, Medicare, Medicaid, and Veteran…
Treatment For Als
- Currently, there is no cure for ALS but there are some treatmentsavailable. For example, Rilutek (riluzole) is an anti-glutamate oral treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995 for the treatment of ALS. Analysis of results from four clinical trialsdemonstrated a nine percent increase in the probability of survival by one year and increased median survival fro…
The Future of Als
- Many ALS patients are living longer and more productive lives thanks to advances in research that increased understanding of the causes of ALS. Patient survival has also increased with improvements in medical management, including support for nutrition and breathing. Further research is needed to determine the possible risk factors that contribute to ALS and to develop n…