ALS symptoms: What are the early signs of motor neurone disease?

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease (MND), is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It attacks the motor neurones, which are the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement.

Early symptoms

The most common initial symptom of ALS is a gradual onset of progressive muscle weakness, which is generally painless. Other early symptoms can vary but can include tripping, dropping things, and difficulty with speech or swallowing.

Later symptoms

As the disease progresses, the muscle weakness can become more severe, leading to difficulty with walking, dressing, and other everyday activities. Other symptoms can include muscle cramps, fasciculations (twitches), and difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Diagnosis

There is no cure for ALS, but there are treatments that can help to manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life for people with the disease. Diagnosis of ALS can be difficult, as there is no single test that can definitively diagnose the disease. Doctors will typically diagnose ALS based on a person's symptoms, a physical examination, and a review of their medical history.