Reviewed by Mandy Armitage, MD | November 6, 2025

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a highly progressive, degenerative disease of the nervous system. It destroys neurons that control muscle movement, and it causes difficulty in walking, talking, and hand usage.

If you suspect ALS, see your doctor as soon as you can. That way, they can run tests to rule out other diseases and get you treated quickly.

References

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Written by:

Hilary Weissman

Hilary Weissman has been a health writer for the past 6 years. She was a senior copywriter at WW (Weight Watchers) before joining GoodRx and was also a copy editor in S&P Global’s structured finance ratings group for 3 years prior.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.