Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as motor neuron disease or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rare and ultimately fatal neurodegenerative disease defined by the progressive loss of the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement. It is the most common of the motor neuron diseases and typically begins with gradual muscle stiffness, twitching, and weakness that worsens over time as more motor neurons are lost. The disease eventually impairs the muscles needed for movement, speech, swallowing, and breathing.