Can You List Diseases That Mimic ALS?

Q:
Can you list diseases that mimic ALS?

A:
There are an estimated 5,000 Americans who are diagnosed with ALS every year. Diagnosis can be hampered, however, as there are other diseases that mimic ALS:

• Alzheimer’s Disease – Just like ALS, Alzheimer’s disease eventually impairs communication and motor functions. Alzheimer’s disease also hampers the ability to perform simple daily activities such as eating and dressing.
• Multiple Sclerosis – Like ALS, MS can affect the muscles used in movement as well as speech. Similarly, MS is currently incurable.
• Parkinson’s Disease – Parkinson’s disease can impair the capacity to walk unassisted, as does ALS.
• Post-polio Syndrome – PPS is a motor neuron disease as is ALS. As such, PPS has symptoms similar to ALS, such as degenerative muscle use as well as swallowing and breathing problems.
• Primary Lateral Sclerosis – PLS decreases muscle capacity resulting in total locomotor impairment. Both diseases are so similar that PLS is considered a variant of ALS.
• Progressive Muscular Atrophy – The disease has symptoms that are very similar to ALS such as impaired motor control and involuntary muscle contractions.
• Pseudobulbar Palsy – The disease has symptoms similar to ALS such as gradual loss of speech and impaired ability to perform actions commonly associated with eating and drinking.
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy – It affects the skeletal muscles and nerve cells responsible for locomotion, swallowing, breathing and speech.

For more details you can go to your doctor for help.

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