Neurologist warned about early signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

One of the earliest and most characteristic signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is muscle twitching (fasciculation), which occurs due to the spontaneous activity of damaged but not yet dead motor neurons. Galina Chudinskaya, a neurologist at Medicine JSC (Academician Roitberg Clinic), told Izvestia about this on September 20.

"Fasciculations appear at the stage when the neuron is still alive, but has already been pathologically altered. This is a kind of "death agony" of the cell — it "crashes", but has not yet completely shut down. That is why twitching often precedes obvious muscle weakness — it signals the beginning of a degenerative process long before the muscle stops contracting," explained Chudinskaya.

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The doctor stressed that fasciculations themselves are not a specific sign of ALS and occur in 70% of healthy people, especially after exercise, lack of sleep or stress. However, alarming signs that require immediate consultation with a neurologist are a combination of twitching with weakness, localization in one muscle group for several weeks, progression of symptoms and the appearance of muscle atrophy.

Chudinskaya noted the key diagnostic principle: fasciculation + weakness + atrophy = "lower motor neuron triad". If it is persistent and progressive, this is a reason for electroneuromyography and consultation with a neurologist. The doctor explained that after the death of the nerve ending, the muscle loses its innervation, undergoes atrophy and fibrosis, and the process becomes irreversible due to the inability to regenerate motor neurons.

"If you notice twitches that don't go away, are accompanied by weakness, or are localized in one area, don't wait. Consult a neurologist. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the more opportunities there are to slow down the progression and preserve the quality of life," the specialist concluded.

On May 27, neurologist Vitaly Akimov told Izvestia which groups of people are most susceptible to multiple sclerosis. According to the doctor, the risk group includes young women from 12 to 40 years old, with a peak onset of the disease at 17-19 years old, with close relatives with multiple sclerosis, living in northern latitudes, who have had viral infections.

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