Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohamadmostafa Jahansouz M.D.[2]

The onset of ALS may be so subtle that the symptoms are frequently overlooked. The earliest LMN symptoms are weakness due to muscle atrophy. This is followed by twitching, cramping, or stiffness of affected muscles; muscle weakness affecting an arm or a leg; and/or slurred and nasal speech. The twitching, cramping, etc. associated with ALS is a result of the dying muscle, due to denervation and sometimes probable re-innervation.

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that ultimately leads to paralysis. Patients may have a positive history of:

• Weakness start proximally/ distally in upper or lower limbs.
• Twitching
• Cramping
• Gradually Stiffness also develop in affected muscles
• Difficulty swallowing/ speech.
• Drooling

Common symptoms of ALS include:

• Muscle weakness
• Muscle stiffness
• Gait disturbances
• Dysarthria/ dysphagia with bulbar-onset ALS.
• Respiratory difficulties

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