Directory of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Resources

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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease in which nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, called motor neurons, get weak and die. Motor neurons are the cells that the brain uses to tell the muscles to move.

It is called progressive, because the damage to the motor neurons gets worse. The muscles get fewer messages from the brain and get stiff from not moving. Eventually, the muscles become paralyzed.

ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease, does not affect other cells in the brain. People with this disease can still think and, with the help of technology, can often communicate well with others.

Resources in This Category

• Kids Health: Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS)

  http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/als.html
  Information about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a disease that damages the nerves. Talks about what it is like living with the disease and quotes Stephen Hawking who has lived with the disease for many years.

 

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