Lou Gehrig’s disease is the common name for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disease that affects nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles.
Early symptoms can vary, but common first signs may include:
- Muscle weakness in one area — often starting in a hand, arm, leg, or the muscles used for speaking.
- Twitching (fasciculations) — small, involuntary muscle movements, often noticed in the arms, legs, shoulders, or tongue.
- Muscle cramps or stiffness — including tightness, spasms, or increased muscle tone.
- Clumsiness or dropping objects — difficulty with tasks like buttoning clothes, writing, or gripping items.
- Changes in speech or swallowing — such as slurred speech, a softer voice, or trouble moving food or liquids.
- Difficulty walking or frequent tripping — due to leg weakness or muscle control problems.
- Unexplained fatigue or muscle weakness.
ALS usually does not begin with symptoms like numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation, because it primarily affects motor neurons rather than sensory nerves.
Many conditions can cause similar symptoms, including nerve compression, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, or other neurological disorders. If someone has progressive muscle weakness, persistent twitching, trouble speaking/swallowing, or unexplained changes in movement, a medical evaluation is important.
