ALS: Clinical Aspects and Genetic Considerations

This lecture provides an overview of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, covering its clinical presentation, disease progression, epidemiology, symptoms, treatments, pathology, genetic versus sporadic forms, and environmental factors. The instructor discusses the rapid progression of ALS, the lack of cure, and the median survival rate. They delve into the genetic causes of ALS, including genes like C9ORF72 and SOD1, and the clinical features associated with different ALS disease types. Furthermore, the lecture explores the impact of environmental factors such as smoking and heavy metal exposure on the development of sporadic ALS.