Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects less than 30,000 people in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 5,000 people are told they have ALS each year. It is a terminal, neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain, affecting the function of nerves and muscles. While the cause of most cases of ALS are still unknown, recent advances in scientific research point to heredity or environmental exposure as potential reasons.

Kentucky’s ALS Association Recognized Treatment Center

UofL Physicians – ALS Clinic, part of UofL Health – Brain & Spine Institute, specializes in caring for people with ALS. The clinic is one of four locations in Kentucky recognized by the ALS Association and has been designated as an ALS Association Recognized Treatment Center. This means the clinic provides evidence-based, comprehensive care and services to support individuals with ALS.

Clinic days are held twice per month on the sixth floor of UofL Health – Frazier Rehabilitation Institute. This allows patients to see each member of the ALS team in one day.

Signs and Symptoms Related to ALS

An initial symptom of ALS might be a weakness in a limb that develops over weeks or months. Later, this weakness may develop in another limb. Slurred speech or difficulty swallowing may also be initial symptoms. As ALS progresses, more symptoms often occur.

ALS Other symptoms may be:

Muscle twitching and cramping, especially in the hands and feet
Loss of motor strength in arms and legs
Impairment in the use of arms and legs
Tripping and falling
Dropping things
Uncontrollable laughing or crying (pseudobulbar affect)
Slurred or thick speech and difficulty in projecting the voice
Difficulty breathing or swallowing

Our Comprehensive Approach to Managing Your ALS

While there currently is no cure for ALS, there are management options. Your treatment plan will be determined by you and your doctor and will take into factors including age, overall health, medical history, the extent of the disease and expectations.

Managing the symptoms of ALS is a process that can be challenging. Our comprehensive care team evaluates each person’s neurological function and determines a comprehensive care plan to maximize function and quality of life. The team typically includes a neurologist, nurse clinician, respiratory therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, social worker, assistive technology consultants, registered dietician and ALS Association patient care coordinator. Each person has a role to play in assisting you and your loved ones in connection to community resources and support groups. Psychological services are also available.

Research Around ALS

Research is the key to fighting ALS. To come up with treatments, the underlying cause must be understood. With this goal in mind, we launched an ALS research program in 2014 to give patients more hope through clinical trials that might make a difference and to help determine how the disease starts and why it progresses. For more information about our program, email FightALS@Louisville.edu.