What is ALS?
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's Disease or Motor Neuron Disease, is a progressive, neuromuscular disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons, among the largest of all nerve cells, reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body. When these motor neurons die, the brain can no longer start and control muscle movement. Over the past decade, we have made amazing strides in our understanding of the brain, the nervous system and genetics. Discoveries in each of these areas bring hope to people with ALS (PALS) and their families that some day a cure will be found.