The comprehensive ALS content is maintained at the canonical disease page:
This page provides an in-depth overview of:
- Epidemiology: incidence, prevalence (~2-3 per 100,000 globally), survival (median 2-5 years from symptom onset)
- Clinical features: progressive muscle weakness, fasciculations, spasticity, respiratory failure
- Genetics: SOD1 (~20% familial), C9orf72 repeat expansions (~40% familial), TARDBP (TDP-43), FUS
- Molecular pathogenesis: protein aggregation (TDP-43 inclusions), oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, excitotoxicity, RNA metabolism dysregulation
- Neuropathology: upper and lower motor neuron degeneration, Bunina bodies, skein-like inclusions, corticospinal tract degeneration
- Frontotemporal dementia overlap: up to 15% of ALS patients develop FTD; shared C9orf72 pathology
- Current treatments: riluzole (glutamate modulator), edaravone (antioxidant), multidisciplinary care, supportive therapies
- Clinical trials: antisense oligonucleotides (BIIB078 for SOD1, BIIB100 for C9orf72), stem cell approaches (Neuronata-R)
ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons. The canonical page at /diseases/als contains comprehensive information and references.