amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

[ ey-mahy-uh-trof-ik, -troh-fik, ey-mahy-uh- ]

nounPathology.

an incurable disease of unknown cause in which progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord leads to atrophy and eventually complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles. Abbreviation: ALS

Origin of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

First recorded in 1885–90; a-⁶ + myo- + -trophic

Also called Lou Gehrig's disease.

Words Nearby amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a sentence

Tokyo-based DAWN, or Diverse Avatar Working Network, is a cafe staffed by robots operated remotely by people with severe physical disabilities like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
A Japanese robot cafe shows how avatars can foster human connection | Anne Quito | November 18, 2021 | Quartz
Keough died in 1985, at 55, from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, making him among the first of the former hostages to die.
40 years later, a dwindling band of Iran hostages awaits a promised payment | Anne Gearan | September 27, 2021 | Washington Post
Holly was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, a nervous system illness that weakens muscle and physical function.
A sick mother, a loving son, a signed Ovechkin jersey — and how the Caps tried to help | Kyle Melnick | February 1, 2021 | Washington Post
Such diseases include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Tourette syndrome, but also ones like malaria that are rare in the US but are major killers globally.
How to fix the orphan drug problem driving up medical costs | Nicole Hassoun | January 14, 2021 | Quartz

British Dictionary definitions for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

/ (ˌæmɪəʊˈtrəʊfɪk) /

noun

a form of motor neurone disease in which degeneration of motor tracts in the spinal cord causes progressive muscular paralysis starting in the limbs: Also called: Lou Gehrig's disease

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

[ ā′mī-ə-trō′fĭk, -ə-trŏf′ĭk, ā-mī′- ]

A chronic, progressive neurologic disease marked by gradual degeneration of the neurons in the spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. The disorder causes muscle weakness and atrophy and usually results in death. Also called Lou Gehrig's disease, after the American baseball player (1903-41) who was the first public figure to suffer from the disease.

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