Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease in adults. It affects motor neurons in the central nervous system. The discovery of novel mutations in the gene encoding SOD1 that cause familial ALS has led to the development of genetically engineered animal models that have substantially enhanced our understanding of this disease. In nearly 98% of ALS cases, the cause for the disease is unknown. There are several proposed mechanisms which may produce the clinical phenotype of ALS. This article reviews the various aspects of ALS, including clinical features, pathology, epidemiology, pathogenic mechanisms, clinical management, and potential therapies.