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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects motor neurons — the nerve cells that transmit signals from the brain to voluntary muscles. As these neurons degenerate, it leads to muscle weakness, cramps, speech and swallowing difficulties, and eventually paralysis1.

Early symptoms can vary depending on which part of the body is first affected. Some patients notice weakness in a hand or foot, while others may experience difficulty speaking. As the disease progresses, it impacts the ability to walk, move, eat, and breathe. Most individuals maintain their cognitive functions, although some may develop cognitive or behavioral impairments related to frontotemporal involvement2.

There is currently no cure for ALS. However, some medications — such as riluzole or edaravone — can modestly slow the progression of the disease in certain cases3. Interdisciplinary care (including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech-language therapy, respiratory support, and psychosocial support) plays a key role in improving the quality of life of patients and their families.

ALS Research in Québec

Research teams affiliated with NeuroQuébec are involved in several areas of ALS investigation, including:

  • The study of genetic mutations involved in hereditary forms of the disease4;
  • The exploration of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress mechanisms;
  • The development of biomarkers to enable earlier detection and better monitoring of disease progression;

Resources and Associations

  • SLA Québec
    A Québec-based organization dedicated to supporting people living with ALS and their families, offering information, advocacy, and community resources.
  • ALS Society of Canada
    A national organization that funds research, supports patients, and advocates for improved care and services for people affected by ALS.
  • International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations
    A global network of ALS/MND organizations that share best practices, research knowledge, and patient resources.

Footnotes

  1. ALS Society of Canada. Qu’est-ce que la SLA? https://als.ca/fr/about-als/quest-ce-que-la-sla/ ↩
  2. Brown RH & Al-Chalabi A. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. N Engl J Med 2017; 377:162–172. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1603471 ↩
  3. Petrov D et al. ALS clinical trials review: 20 years of failure. Are we any closer to registering a new treatment? Front Aging Neurosci. 2017; 9:68. ↩
  4. van Es MA, et al. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Lancet. 2017; 390(10107):2084–2098. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31287-4 ↩