Understanding the Causes of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a human disease resulting from the degeneration of motor neurons in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. The resultant clinical features include weakness of the arms, legs, and face and difficulties with speech, swallowing, and breathing. ALS affects women and men, regardless of ancestry, and the risk of disease increases with age. Its clinical progression is one of the fastest of the neurodegenerative diseases, with death (often from respiratory failure) typically occurring within 3 to 5 years after onset. The incidence is approximately 2 per 100,000 persons per year, and the prevalence is . . .