Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a clinical review

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting primarily the motor system, but in which extra-motor manifestations are increasingly recognized. The loss of upper and lower motor neurons in the motor cortex, the brain stem nuclei and the anterior horn of the spinal cord gives rise to progressive muscle weakness and wasting. ALS often has a focal onset but subsequently spreads to different body regions, where failure of respiratory muscles typically limits survival to 2-5 years after disease onset. In up to 50% of cases, there are extra-motor manifestations such as changes in behaviour, executive dysfunction and language problems. In 10%-15% of patients, these problems are severe…

• E
  E-Rare
• EC
  European Commission

  Award: 755094
• FW
  Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
• KL
  KU Leuven

  Awards: C1-C14-17-107, C1‐C14‐17‐107, C14-17-107
• VR
  Vlaamse regering
• FP
  Fondation pour la Recherche sur Alzheimer