ALS
What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?
ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It affects voluntary muscle control, including the muscles used for breathing, talking, eating and moving. ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, trouble swallowing, or slurred speech.
Symptoms can occur at any age, but most commonly develop between age 55 and 75. About 90% of cases are sporadic ALS, with no genetic component. The remaining 10% are familial ALS. An estimated 5,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed each year. Men are slightly more likely to develop ALS. Some studies suggest that military veterans are about one and a half to two times more likely to develop ALS.
What are the Symptoms of ALS?
- Trouble walking or doing usual daily activities
- Tripping and falling
- Weakness in the legs, feet or ankles
- Hand weakness or clumsiness
- Slurred speech or trouble swallowing
- Weakness associated with muscle cramps and twitching in the arms, shoulders and tongue
- Untimely crying, laughing or yawning
- Thinking or behavioral changes
ALS typically starts in the hands, feet, arms or legs and then spreads to other parts of the body. As more nerve cells die, muscles get weaker and eventually chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing are affected.
What are the Complications of ALS?
- Breathing problems – the most common cause of death for those diagnosed with ALS
- Speaking problems
- Eating problems
- Frontotemporal dementia (less common)
How is ALS Diagnosed?
ALS can be hard to diagnose because it’s early symptoms can mimic other diseases. Tests will be conducted to rule out other causes of symptoms and help a diagnosis, including:
- Electromyogram (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) – to look for problems with the muscles or nerves
- MRI – can reveal spinal cord tumors or herniated discs that may mimic ALS symptoms, or document ALS changes in the body
- Blood and urine tests – can rule out other causes, or look for serum neurofilament light levels, which are high in those with ALS
- Spinal tap – to look for other causes of symptoms
- Muscle biopsy – to look for other causes of symptoms, specifically a muscle disease
- Nerve biopsy – to look for other causes of symptoms, specifically a nerve disease
Neurologists will look for evidence of degeneration of both upper and lower motor neurons, as well as the progression of symptoms to other areas of the body. Other diseases/conditions have similar symptoms to ALS, including:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Spinal muscular atrophy
- Multifocal motor neuropathy
- Primary lateral sclerosis
- Hereditary spastic paraplegia
- Cancers of the brain and spine
- Polio
- Lyme disease
- HIV
- Injuries to the brain and neck
- Hyperthyroidism
- Heavy metal poisoning
In most instances, if you have a clear diagnosis of ALS you should be able to collect under your policy without the assistance of an attorney. However, if the diagnosis is uncertain and/or you are considering modifying your practice in any way after receiving an early-stage ALS diagnosis, you should review your disability policy and speak with an experienced disability insurance attorney to discuss your options under your policy and the best way to prove up your disability claim.
These posts are for informative purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and diagnosis by a medical professional. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms described above and have yet to consult with a doctor, do not use this resource to self-diagnose. Please contact your doctor immediately and schedule an appointment to be evaluated for your symptoms.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
ALS Association
National Institute of Health
ALS Therapy Development Institute
