Directory of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Resources

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Motor neuron disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive disease that attacks motor neurons, components of the nervous system that connect the brain with the skeletal muscles. Skeletal muscles are the muscles involved with voluntary movement, like walking and talking. When your brain sends a signal telling a part of your body to move, the motor neurons transmit the command to the skeletal muscles. The muscles respond by contracting.

In ALS, the motor neurons deteriorate and eventually die, and though a person's brain is fully functioning and alert, the command to move never reaches the muscle. The patient may want to reach for a glass of water, for example, but is not able to do it because the lines of communication from the brain to the arm and hand muscles have been destroyed. The muscles eventually waste away from disuse, and a person in the late stages of Lou Gehrig's disease is completely paralyzed. Currently, there is no cure for ALS, although drug therapy can slow progression of the disease.

Subcategories

• Associations
• Clinics
• Personal Pages
• Treatment

Resources in This Category

• ALS Association

  http://www.alsa.org/
  Information about this non-profit health organization that is dedicated solely to the fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Lou Gehrigs Disease.

• ALS Forums

  http://www.alsforums.com/
  An online support group, moderated by people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, intended for individuals affected by ALS/MND.

• ALS Ride for Life

  http://ride-for-life.org/
  Caregiver support, information about improving outcome.

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Sacramento

  http://websac.alsa.org/
  A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education, information and support services to ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) patients and their families.

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Information Page

  http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/ALS.htm
  ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease information sheet compiled by NINDS, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

• Defeating ALS

  http://www.defeatingals.com/
  Awareness and fund-raising dedicated to defeating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Information about events, how you can help, and about the disease. Sponsored by a family affected twice by the disease.

• eMedicine Health - Dementia in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig Disease)

  http://www.emedicinehealth.com/dementia_in_als_lou_gehrigs_disease/article_em.htm
  Consumer health resource center providing information on the causes, symptoms, of ALS and dementia.

• General Practice Notebook - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

  http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-268042240
  Clinically-oriented information.

• International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations

  http://www.alsmndalliance.org/
  the peak body for national organisations who support people living with ALS/MND.

• The Angel Fund

  http://www.theangelfund.org/
  Dedicated to increasing awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and based at Massachusetts General Hospital.

• The Curtis R. Vance Foundation

  http://als-curtisvancefoundation.org/
  Information about the organization as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ways to improve daily life with ALS, and an opportunity to donate to a worthy cause.

Related Categories

• Home > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Chronic Illness
• Home > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Communication Disorders > Language and Speech
• Home > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Neurological Disorders > Neurodegenerative Diseases > Motor Neuron Disease
• Home > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Neurological Disorders > Spinal Cord
• Home > Health > Medicine > Medical Specialties > Neurology
• Home > Kids and Teens > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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