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Neuromuscular Disease pp 43–59Cite as

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative disorder characterized by loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, brainstem, and cerebral cortex. It is an uncommon disease with an incidence in the range of 1–2.5 cases per 100,000 population. Incidence increases with age and there is a slight male preponderance. The etiology is unknown, and the progression of the disease is almost uniformly relentless, resulting in death.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

    Michael Benatar MBChB, MS, DPhil

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  1. Michael Benatar MBChB, MS, DPhil
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

    Michael Benatar MBChB, MS, DPhil

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Benatar, M. (2006). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In: Benatar, M. (eds) Neuromuscular Disease. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-106-2_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-106-2_5

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-627-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-106-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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