NurseRegistry

ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a motor neuron disease that raises important questions about family risk. About 5 to 10 percent of people with ALS have familial ALS , which means the disease runs in their family due to inherited genetic mutations, while the remaining 90 to 95 percent have sporadic ALS without an apparent family history. Understanding whether ALS is hereditary matters if you have a family member with the condition or want to know your own risk. The distinction between familial and sporadic forms affects how you might approach genetic testing and family planning. Even in sporadic cases, research shows that genetic factors can still play a role. More than 25 genes have been linked to ALS , accounting for about 70 percent of familial cases and 10 percent of sporadic cases. Learning about the genetic components of ALS helps you make informed decisions about testing and understand what the diagnosis means for you and your fam...