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.

How do members experience amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis*

*Data from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Rilutek)
Perceived effectiveness
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (54 evaluations)
Side effects
spasticity tiredness
Total evaluations
54
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (96)
Treatment

(Radicava)
Perceived effectiveness
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (10 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
10
Tried for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (29)

*Data from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 3
20s 121
30s 455
40s 973
50s 2,324
60s 3,701
70+ 4,877

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 6,403
Female 5,258

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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, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Rilutek)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
5,415
Treatment name(s)

(Radicava)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
359

Data from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Rilutek)
Perceived effectiveness
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (54 evaluations)
Side effects
spasticity tiredness
Total evaluations
54
Treatment name(s)

(Radicava)
Perceived effectiveness
for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (10 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
10
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 9 new patients joined this month
  • 14,339 say ALS is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 3
20s 121
30s 455
40s 973
50s 2,324
60s 3,701
70+ 4,877
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 40
20-29 years 227
30-39 years 744
40-49 years 1,459
50-59 years 1,883
60-69 years 1,290
70+ years 340

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 6,403
Female 5,258

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 6,631
Not Diagnosed 298

These charts show data from ALS patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: