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Copyright 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Synonyms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- ALS
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Polyglucosan Bodies
- Aran-Duchenne Muscular Atrophy
- Gehrig's Disease
- Lou Gehrig's Disease
- Motor System Disease (Focal and Slow)
Disorder Subdivisions
- Benign Focal Amyotrophy of ALS
- Infantile Spinal Muscular Atrophy, ALS
- Juvenile Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Included
- Kugelberg-Welander Disease
- Primary Lateral Sclerosis
- Progressive Bulbar Palsy, Included
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Type ALS
- Upper Motor Neuron Disease
- Werdnig-Hoffman Disease
- Wohlfart-Disease
General Discussion
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of a group of disorders known as motor neuron diseases. It is characterized by the progressive degeneration and eventual death of nerve cells (motor neurons) in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord that facilitate communication between the nervous system and voluntary muscles of the body. Ordinarily, motor neurons in the brain (upper motor neurons) sent messages to motor neurons in the spinal cord (lower motor neurons) and then to various muscles. ALS affects both the upper and lower motor neurons, so that the transmission of messages is interrupted, and muscles gradually weaken and waste away. As a result, the ability to initiate and control voluntary movement is lost. Ultimately, ALS leads to respiratory failure because affected individuals lose the ability to control muscles in the chest and diaphragm. ALS is often called Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Organizations related to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- ALS Society of Ontario
3100 Steeles Ave E, Suite 402
Markham
Ontario Intl L3R 8T3
Phone #: 905--24-8-2101
800 #: 866--61-1-8545
e-mail: info@alsont.ca
Home page: http://www.alsont.ca
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association
27001 Agoura Road
Suite 150
Calabasas Hills CA 91301-5104
Phone #: 818-880-9007
800 #: 800-782-4747
e-mail: als@alsa-national.org
Home page: http://www.alsa.org
- Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
636 Morris Turnpike, Suite 3A
Short Hills NJ 07078
Phone #: 973-379-2690
800 #: 800-225-0292
e-mail: prc@ChristopherReeve.org
Home page: http://www.christopherreeve.org
- Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy
925 Busse Road
Elk Grove Village IL 60007
Phone #: 847-367-7620
800 #: 800-886-1762
e-mail: sma@fsma.org
Home page: http://www.curesma.com
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: ordr@od.nih.gov
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx
- International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations
None
P.O. Box 246
Northampton None NN1 2PR
Phone #: N/A
800 #: --
e-mail: alliance@alsmndalliance.org
Home page: http://www.alsmndalliance.org/
- Les Turner Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation, Ltd.
5550 W. Touhy Avenue, Suite 302
Skokie IL 60077-3254
Phone #: 847-679-3311
800 #: 888-257-1107
e-mail: info@lesturnerals.org
Home page: http://www.lesturnerals.org
- MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: mums@netnet.net
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
- Muscular Dystrophy Association
3300 E. Sunrise Dr
Tucson AZ 85718
Phone #: 520-529-2000
800 #: 800-344-4863
e-mail: mda@mdausa.org
Home page: http://www.mdausa.org
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda MD 20824
Phone #: 301-496-5751
800 #: 800-352-9424
e-mail: me20t@nih.gov
Home page: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
- New Horizons Un-Limited, Inc.
811 East Wisconsin Ave
Suite 937
Milwaukee WI 53202
Phone #: 414-299-0124
800 #: N/A
e-mail: horizons@new-horizons.org
Home page: http://www.new-horizons.org
- Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association
76 Firhill Rd
Glasgow Intl G20 7BA
Phone #: 014-194-51077
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@scotmnd.co.uk
Home page: http://www.scotmnd.org.uk
- Spastic Paraplegia Foundation
212 Farm Rd
Woburn MA Sherborn
Phone #: N/A
800 #: 877-773-4483
e-mail: info@sp-foundation.org
Home page: http://sp-foundation.org
- Stem Cell Research Foundation
22512 Gateway Center Drive
Clarksburg MD 20871
Phone #: 877-842-3442
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@stemcellresearchfoundation.org
Home page: http://www.stemcellresearchfoundation.org
- UCSF Memory and Aging Center
350 Parnassus Avenue
Suite 706
San Francisco CA 94117
Phone #: 415-476-6800
800 #: N/A
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://memory.ucsf.edu
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