[A new ALS scale and prospective study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis progression]

We developed a new ALS scale which is characterized by inclusion of as many check items as 77 which range from cranial nerve region to extremities and trunk. Despite of large number of items, it is neither time-consuming, nor poses much burden on patients or examiners as the activity tests are so devised and most of them can be done while the patient remains in supine position. In addition, an attempt is made that the total score obtained by the scale reflects not only the degree of disability of the patients but also the extent of motor neuron loss. Using the scale, ALS progression was prospectively studied in 13 patients and it was found that in older patients ALS progresses more rapidly than in younger patients.