How does multiple sclerosis (MS) differ from ALS?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a fairly common disease among young adults, characterized by a wide range and variety of neurological symptoms. The majority of these symptoms (visual disturbances, sensory disturbances, bladder dysfunction, and eye movement disorders) do not occur in ALS. These symptoms usually occur in the form of “relapses.” In this regard, there are few similarities between MS and ALS. In a specific form of MS, known as chronic progressive MS, there may be a slow progression of spastic paralysis of the legs (spastic paraparesis). These symptoms are, in principle, also possible in ALS. The two conditions can be distinguished by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord and brain, which reveals changes specific to MS. Unlike ALS, MS can be diagnosed based on typical MRI findings.