Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
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- help each other live better and uncover the best ways to manage your health today
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What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a degenerative disorder affecting upper motor neurons in the brain and lower motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord. Symptoms include progressive weakness, atrophy, fasciculation, dysphagia, and eventual paralysis of respiratory function.
Common symptoms reported by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, insomnia, fatigue, and pain) regardless of condition.
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Treatments taken by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
181
Tried for
Stiffness/Spasticity
(144)
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(61)
2 more
Treatment name(s)
Deanna Protocol
Type
Supplement
How many have tried
71
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(71)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
65
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(64)
Excess saliva
(1)
1 more
Type
Supplement
How many have tried
48
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(47)
Stiffness/Spasticity
(2)
1 more
Data from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
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Compare treatments taken by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Perceived effectiveness
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (565 evaluations)
Total evaluations
571
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(602)
Perceived effectiveness
for Stiffness/Spasticity (104 evaluations)
Total evaluations
129
Tried for
Stiffness/Spasticity
(144)
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(61)
2 more
Perceived effectiveness
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (601 evaluations)
Total evaluations
602
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(161)
Treatment name(s)
Deanna Protocol
Perceived effectiveness
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (92 evaluations)
Total evaluations
92
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(71)
Perceived effectiveness
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (53 evaluations)
Total evaluations
60
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(64)
Excess saliva
(1)
1 more
Perceived effectiveness
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (49 evaluations)
Total evaluations
51
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(47)
Stiffness/Spasticity
(2)
1 more
Perceived effectiveness
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (13 evaluations)
Total evaluations
16
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(33)
Fatigue
(9)
Perceived effectiveness
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (18 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
18
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(34)
Perceived effectiveness
for Insomnia (9 evaluations)
Total evaluations
26
Tried for
Insomnia
(14)
Excess saliva
(10)
3 more
Perceived effectiveness
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (14 evaluations)
Total evaluations
14
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(28)
- Major
- Moderate
- Slight
- None
- Can't tell
- Severe
- Moderate
- Mild
- None
Data from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
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Who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on PatientsLikeMe?
- 10,799 patients have this condition
- 57 new patients joined this month
- 10,632 say ALS is their primary condition
| Age | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| <20 | 6 | |
| 20s | 133 | |
| 30s | 458 | |
| 40s | 1,233 | |
| 50s | 2,454 | |
| 60s | 2,790 | |
| 70+ | 1,788 |
| Age at first symptom | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| 0-19 years | 40 | |
| 20-29 years | 223 | |
| 30-39 years | 686 | |
| 40-49 years | 1,361 | |
| 50-59 years | 1,713 | |
| 60-69 years | 1,124 | |
| 70+ years | 266 |
Sex
Distribution of sex
| 44% | Female |
|---|---|
| 56% | Male |
| Diagnosis status | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosed | 5,881 | |
| Not Diagnosed | 289 |
These charts show data from ALS patients who have completed their condition history
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