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| The disorder belongs to a class of disorders known as motor neuron diseases. ALS occurs when specific nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary movement gradually degenerate. ALS manifests itself in different ways, depending on which muscles weaken first. ALS strikes in mid-life. Men are about one-and-a-half times more likely to have the disease than are women. Is there any treatment? There is no cure for ALS, nor is there a proven therapy that will prevent or reverse the course of the disorder. The FDA has approved riluzole, the first drug that has been shown to prolong the survival of ALS patients. Patients may also receive supportive treatments that address some of their symptoms. What is the prognosis? ALS is usually fatal within five years of the initial diagnosis. |
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