Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

At the Ochsner Health ALS Center, our approach unites specialists from different fields who work together to manage your health. This collaborative model ensures all aspects of your care are addressed in one convenient location. Before your first appointment, your ALS coordinator or advanced practice nurse will connect with you to discuss your symptoms and start planning your care.

Ochsner's dedicated ALS care team includes:

• Neurologists
• Advanced practice providers
• Licensed clinical social workers
• Pulmonologists
• Speech-language pathologists
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Dietitians
• Respiratory therapists

Diagnosing ALS

Many new patients come to Ochsner's ALS center after an initial evaluation with another neurologist. Ochsner neurologists have extensive training in neuromuscular diseases and conduct a thorough evaluation for every patient, whether for an initial diagnosis or a second opinion.

Diagnosing ALS involves a complete physical and neurological exam, along with specific tests to rule out other conditions.

Available Diagnostic Testing

• Blood and urine tests: Help eliminate other potential causes for your symptoms.
• Electromyogram (EMG): Evaluates the electrical activity in your muscles.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Creates detailed images of your brain and spinal cord.
• Muscle biopsy: Determines if a muscle disease other than ALS is present.
• Nerve conduction study: Measures how well your nerves send signals to muscles.
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture): Analyzes spinal fluid to check for infections or other issues.

While there is no cure for ALS, Ochsner's mission is to help you live a productive and independent life for as long as possible. We provide established treatments and give our patients access to the future of care through clinical trials.

Available therapies and support

• Pulmonary therapy
• Neuro-specialized rehabilitation including physical, occupational and speech therapy
• Nutritional support
• Emotional support

Medications

Ochsner's ALS team prescribes medications to manage symptoms and improve daily life. These therapies can address constipation, depression, fatigue, muscle cramps and other challenges.

Currently, Rilutek is an FDA-approved medication that helps slow the progression of ALS. Radicava (edaravone) is another treatment option that has been shown to slow the decline in physical function for some patients. Ochsner's experts will work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your specific needs.

ALS is a motor neuron disease that affects a person’s ability to speak. Ochsner's ALS clinic is host to a voice banking program established as a way to record and preserve the voices of people diagnosed with ALS.

Through a series of appointments, Ochsner's team uses software to record the voices of people with ALS. The recordings are then synthesized into a unique digital voice that can be used on a computer or other device, allowing patients to continue communicating in their own voice when the ability to speak is lost.

ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting brain and spinal cord nerve cells. Over time, it leads to the loss of muscle control, impacting a person's ability to move, speak, eat and breathe. Each year, nearly 5,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS.

ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The term comes from Greek words meaning "no muscle nourishment." This refers to the failure of nerve cells, leading to muscle weakening. Because of its prominence in history, ALS is also called Lou Gehrig's Disease, named after the famous baseball player who was diagnosed in 1939.

While there is no cure for ALS, treatments focus on slowing the disease's progression, managing symptoms, and improving quality of life. At Ochsner's ALS Center, patients can access a quality care team and physical, occupational, speech, and pulmonary therapies. Medications like Rilutek and Radicava are used to slow progression or manage symptoms. The center also offers access to clinical trials for future treatment options.

At Ochsner, our dedicated ALS team includes a neurologist, advanced practice providers, a licensed clinical social worker, a pulmonologist, a speech-language pathologist, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a dietitian, and a respiratory therapist.