Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a rare disorder affecting the upper motor neurone and is often referred to as a milder case of Lou-Gehrig’s disease.
- It is also a degenerative neurological disorder but unlike Lou-Gehrig’s, the lower motor neurons are unaffected.
- The body parts that are initially affected are the leg muscles but it can also start in the bulbar muscles which control speech and swallowing.
- The degenerative process is confined to the length of the spinal column, affecting the legs, arms, and the speech and swallowing muscles.
- Middle aged people are susceptible to this disease, with a few rare cases of affected children.
- Although there is no known cure for the disease, people with PLS can live for many years with the assistance of wheelchairs and canes.
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