What is the Difference Between ALS and MS (Multiple Sclerosis)?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are both neurological disorders that affect the central nervous system (CNS), but they have different characteristics and symptoms. Here are the key differences between MS and ALS:

1. Affected areas: MS damages the myelin sheaths in the brain and spinal cord, while ALS causes the death of motor neurons.
2. Autoimmune disease: MS is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body attacks itself, whereas ALS is not an autoimmune condition.
3. Gender prevalence: MS is more common in women, while ALS is more common in men.
4. Ethnicity: MS is most common in Caucasians, while ALS affects all ethnic groups equally.
5. Heritability: ALS can be inherited, with up to 10% of cases being passed down through genes, but MS cannot be inherited.
6. Symptoms: ALS mainly affects physical functions, while MS can lead to problems with memory and thinking. However, recent data suggests that about half of individuals living with ALS also have issues with cognition, with about 20% experiencing dementia.
7. Disease progression: The progression, treatments, and outlook for ALS and MS are very different, with ALS often leading to paralysis in its later stages and MS rarely leaving people completely debilitated.
8. Age of onset: MS is usually discovered between the ages of 20 and 40, while ALS is often diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 70.

In summary, while MS and ALS share some similarities, they differ in the areas they affect, their status as autoimmune diseases, gender prevalence, ethnicity, heritability, and disease progression.

Comparative Table: ALS vs MS (Multiple Sclerosis)

Here is a table comparing the differences between ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and MS (Multiple Sclerosis):

Please note that some of these features may overlap, as more recent data suggests that about 20% of individuals living with ALS also have issues with cognitive functions, memory, and thinking.