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Target ALS

A New York based ALS research organization that's leading the fight for a cure.

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Glossary

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as ALS, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in the central nervous system that impacts the brain and spinal cord, resulting in a loss of muscle control.

It is colloquially referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, after the famous baseball player who battled it in the late 1930s, and does not yet have a cure. To better understand the language of ALS, the ALS Glossary below provides definitions for research terms commonly used by our Innovation Ecosystem and the extended ALS community.

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dementia

A general term for the loss of loss of cognitive functioning–the ability to remember, think or make decisions.

diagnostic biomarker

A diagnostic biomarker detects or confirms the presence of a disease or condition, or identifies an individual with a subtype of the disease.

druggability

A term used in drug discovery to describe the likelihood that a drug will be able to adjust a biological target (such as a protein).

dysarthria

Weakness of the muscles used for speaking. Can cause slurred or slow speech, making it difficult to communicate with others.

dysphagia

The inability to swallow.

Dystonia

A long, enduring spasm within a particular muscle group.

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We are a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN: 81-0756743), eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions that directly support our mission to break down barriers to ALS research to find effective treatments.

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