Article / Updated 03-26-2016
ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressively debilitating disease that causes muscle spasms; weakness from wasting away of muscles; and ultimately, strained speaking, swallowing, and breathing. The disease goes by a few other names, including motor neurone disease (MND), Charcot disease, and Lou Gehrig's disease, the latter of which refers to the legendary first baseman who died two years after his ALS diagnosis.