Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often called Lou Gehrig’s syndrome, is a progressive disease that affects nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. Early symptoms can be subtle and vary from person to person.
Common first symptoms include:
- Muscle weakness, often starting in one hand, arm, leg, or on one side of the body
- Trouble with fine movements, such as buttoning clothes, writing, turning keys, or handling objects
- Muscle twitching (fasciculations), especially in the arms, legs, shoulders, or tongue
- Muscle cramps or stiffness
- Tripping, stumbling, or difficulty walking
- Slurred speech or difficulty speaking clearly (when speech muscles are affected early)
- Difficulty swallowing in some people
- Loss of muscle bulk (atrophy) in affected areas
- Fatigue and reduced endurance during physical tasks
Early ALS symptoms can resemble many other conditions, so a diagnosis usually requires a neurological evaluation and tests such as nerve conduction studies, electromyography (EMG), and imaging or blood tests to rule out other causes.
If someone has progressive muscle weakness, especially with twitching, stiffness, or speech/swallowing changes, it is worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
