Can children develop ALS?

ALS is extremely rare in children and adolescents. Cases of ALS onset before the age of 16 have been reported only in exceptional instances. However, other motor neuron diseases do occur in childhood and adolescence, particularly spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) or spastic spinal paralysis (SSP), which can also be accompanied by paralysis (paresis), muscle wasting (myatrophy), or stiffness (spasticity). In most cases, these pediatric motor neuron disorders have a genetic cause.