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 be subtle and vary from person to person.
Possible Early Symptoms of ALS
- Muscle weakness
- Weakness in one hand, arm, leg, or foot
- Trouble with tasks such as buttoning clothes, gripping objects, or lifting things
- Tripping or difficulty climbing stairs
- Muscle twitching (fasciculations)
- Small, involuntary muscle twitches, often in the arms, legs, shoulders, or tongue
- Muscle cramps and stiffness
- Frequent cramps
- Tight or stiff muscles
- Increased difficulty moving smoothly
- Changes in speech or swallowing
- Slurred speech
- A softer or altered voice
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing (in some people)
- Loss of coordination and balance
- Clumsiness
- Dropping objects
- Increased falls
- Unexplained muscle wasting
- Noticeable shrinking of muscles, often in the hands, arms, shoulders, or legs
Important to know
These symptoms do not necessarily mean someone has ALS. Many other conditions can cause similar problems, including nerve compression, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, autoimmune diseases, or other neurological conditions.
A doctor—often a neurologist—diagnoses ALS through a combination of:
- Medical history and neurological examination
- Nerve and muscle tests (such as EMG)
- Imaging and laboratory tests to rule out other causes
If someone has new, progressive muscle weakness, especially if it is worsening over weeks or months, they should seek medical evaluation. Early assessment can help identify the cause and guide appropriate care.
