Summary: Dr. Robert Miller is interviewed about how ALS (or Lou Gehrig's disease) involves nerves controlling voluntary muscle movements. Weakness in one muscle group, speech changes and difficulty swallowing are some of the problems that initially affect people and cause them to seek medical attention. Care is complex, relying upon multiple therapists to give people the best quality of life. At this time, one medicine has been shown in trials to slow down but not halt the progression of disease. Maintaining hope, accepting symptoms to relieve symptoms, maintaining good nutrition, ensuring good lung function and involvement in a multi-disciplinary clinic have all been shown to improve people's quality of life.
