The Difference Between MS and ALS
ALS and MS may share similar symptoms, but they are actually quite different.
MS, or Multiple Sclerosis, is an autoimmune disease. Every nerve cell in the body is covered in a protective coating called a mylein sheath. MS damages the myelin sheaths in the brain and spinal cord which prohibits them from sending out signals to motor neurons in the body.
ALS, also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, causes the death of the motor neurons.
Both diseases eliminate the brain and spinal cord's ability to control voluntary muscles within the body. However, people often live with MS for 25-35 years, while the life expectancy of someone with ALS is only 2-5 years.
