AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease is a disease where nerve cells controlling muscle function degenerate. In most cases, we do not know why someone develops ALS. In about 10% of cases, it is genetic. In addition to weakness in the arms and legs, patients may experience trouble speaking, swallowing, and breathing. Although there are treatments that can slow the progression of ALS there is no cure. The average patient with ALS dies 3-4 years after the onset of their disease.

Most neurologists see only a couple of patients with ALS each year. Given the complexities of diagnosis and the dire prognosis, you should have a clinician with vast experience and training to make sure the diagnosis and treatment are correct. Over the last 20 years, Dr. Saperstein has diagnosed and cared for over 1,000 individuals with ALS. At the Center for Complex Neurology, you can benefit from this experience and knowledge to ensure that you get state-of-the-art diagnosis and care.