ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a fatal, neuromuscular disease affecting approximately 25,000 to 30,000 people in the United States and 70,000 people worldwide. It attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in muscle paralysis and respiratory failure.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that attacks specialized nerve cells called motor neurons, which control the movement of voluntary muscles.
"Amyotrophic" refers to a loss of muscle mass; "Lateral" refers to the nerve tracks that run down both sides of the spinal cord, where many neurons affected by ALS are found; "Sclerosis" refers to the scar tissue that remains after disintegration of nerves occurs.
ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, maladie de Charcot and Motor Neuron Disease. Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot, a French neurologist, first described ALS in 1869. He was the first physician to link symptoms of ALS to a group of nerves specifically affected by the disease -- the motor neurons that originate in the spinal cord.
Worldwide, the annual incidence of ALS is 2.5 new cases per 100,000 people. It is estimated that approximately 25-30,000 people have ALS in the U.S.
- ALS Association - The ALS Association seeks to promote awareness and understanding of ALS and the work of The ALS Association by providing up-to-date information and education materials to the ALS community
- Philadelphia Chapter of ALS Association - The mission of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association is to offer comprehensive patient care and support to individuals with ALS and their families, to support research dedicated to discovering the cause of and cure for ALS, to educate and inform the general public and the health care community about ALS, to provide advocacy for ALS research and health care concerns, and to raise funds to facilitate these efforts.
- ALS Magazine - dedicated to educating, informing and supporting patients with ALS and their families
- ALS Ride for Life -
Christopher K. Pendergast is an elementary school teacher in Long Island who was
diagnosed with ALS - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease) more than 4
years ago. In order to raise money for research and to increase public awareness of ALS, Chris plans to ride his electric disability scooter from Yankee Stadium, home of Lou Gehrig, more than 300 miles to Washington, D.C. Chris' "Ride For Life" will begin in NY on May 1st and end in Washington DC on May 14th.
- Ten Commandments for the Management Of ALS
Home Page |
Ordering Information |
Collection
