What is ALS?

The clock is ticking.

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) urgently needs a cure. ALS is a deadly disease of the nerves that control muscles. As motor nerve cells die, signals from the brain and spinal cord no longer reach the muscles. As a result, the muscles fail one by one. After the first symptoms, patients live an average of three to five years. In The Netherlands, an average of 1,500 people live with ALS, or the related diseases PSMA and PLS. Every year, 500 new patients are diagnosed and 500 also die. The Dutch ALS Foundation funds scientific research into the cause and treatment of ALS, PSMA and PLS.

Over the past 15 years, much has been achieved by researching these diseases and more is known about their origins. We are getting closer and closer to understanding more about the causes and solutions to this disease. But for the patients, time is ticking. The Dutch ALS Foundation is also committed to improving the quality of care and life of patients and their families. The necessary research depends on donations. Therefore, we must continue to fight together, launch new initiatives, and raise even more money.