What is ALS ?

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS),

often referred to as Lou Gehrig's
Disease or Motor Neuron Disease, is a
progressive, neurodegenerative disease
that affects motor neurons.

It attacks the nerve cells (neurons)

responsible for controlling voluntary
muscles (muscle action we are able to
control, such as those in the arms,
legs, and face).

HOW ALS AFFECTED THE

COORDINATION OF HUMAN BODY
ALS: Disease of the motor neurons
The nerve from the brain to the spinal cord
(upper motor neurons) and to the spinal cord to
the peripheral nerves (lower motor neurons)
that control movement of the body DIE, for an
unknown reason.
Leading to a progression loss of the ability to
move virtually any of the muscles of the body.

How ALS Works?

Motor
neurons
degenerated

No longer send
impulses
to the muscle

therefore:
No muscle
movement

Muscle begin to autropy (became

smaller). This is because muscles
no longer receive the messages
from the motor neurons that they
require to function.

ALS
AFFECTS
Voluntary muscle :
Those controlled by conscious
thought
Such as:
-Arm
-Leg
-Trunk muscles

DOES NOT AFFECTS

-Sensation

-Thought processes

-Heart muscle

-Smooth muscle of
digestive system, bladder
an other internal organs.

Most people with ALS retain function of their eye

muscles as well.
However, various forms of ALS may be associated
with a loss of intellectual function (dementia) or
sensory symptoms.