Life Care Plan - Differences Between ALS And Cerebral Palsy

ALS and cerebral palsy have a great number of similarities - both are neurological disorders that impact muscle control, among other things. While this may lead you to conclude a life care plan for both conditions will be pretty much the same, this couldn’t be further from the truth. 

There are many differences between the two, including the underlying causes, progression of symptoms, treatment, and prognosis - all of which require a slight adjustment in life care planning services.

Today, we’ll cover these conditions in  more detail and explain exactly how they differ.

What is ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a disease that damages nerve cells and motor neurons. 

Since the latter regulate muscle movements in the entire body, muscle control will quickly deteriorate when they get damaged or destroyed. This condition affects all muscle tissue in the body, including smooth muscle tissue (muscles under involuntary control) and skeletal muscles (muscles that can be consciously controlled). 

Generally speaking, most instances of ALS get rapidly worse over time, until the afflicted individual slowly loses control over all muscle movements. This is why ALS is so fatal, as the patient may lose the ability to breathe or eat, ultimately dying of respiratory failure. 

What Is Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder with similar symptoms to ALS as it affects muscles, balance, movement, and coordination. The root cause of the disease is damage to the brain during the beginning stages of development, typically during childbirth or fetal development. As such, it impacts the ability of the individual to control movements and muscles.

This condition has many different variants ranging from mild to severe, and while some people may only exhibit a few symptoms, others can never live independently. 

Cerebral palsy also causes other conditions, including but not limited to, cognitive impairment, hearing or vision loss, and epilepsy. 

Similarities Between ALS And Cerebral Palsy

Before going over the differences which may affect the life care plan for each condition, we will first go over the key similarities. 

1. Affect motor function

Since ALS and cerebral palsy are neurological and affect the part of the nervous system that regulates motor function, symptoms are often similar. For instance, both are characterized by muscle weakness, spasms, and difficulty controlling movement. 

Despite this fact, ALS has less variation in its symptoms, while cerebral palsy can affect different parts of the body and symptoms are a lot more individual. 

2. Difficult to diagnose

There is no singular diagnostic test for either condition. For example, with cerebral palsy, doctors may diagnose the individual by closely observing their motor development and other, minor symptoms. 

ALS is also difficult to diagnose because symptoms are similar to other conditions, and it’s rarely diagnosed early. Doctors may use tests to rule out other conditions rather than finding evidence of ALS. Tests may include MRI, EMG, and others that record electric activities in the brain and muscles. 

3. Cause several complications

Along with primary symptoms, cerebral palsy and ALS cause an assortment of other complications. In the case of ALS, complications may include cognitive impairments, respiratory problems, and difficulty speaking and eating.

As mentioned previously, cerebral palsy can cause issues that will vary between different cases. These may include anything from difficulty speaking and eating to mood disorders, arthritis, and so on. 

4. There’s no cure for either condition

Sadly, there’s still no remedy for these two conditions, despite the best effort from researchers. At the moment, only some symptoms can be treated and managed. 

With cerebral palsy, children may actually reach a stage where they can continue life with less discomfort and improved mobility.

The bad news is that damaged neurons can’t be restored, so the treatment of ALS is mostly aimed at improving the patient’s comfort and slowing down the progression of neuron damage.

Differences Between ALS and Cerebral Palsy

Since a life care plan addresses the cost of ongoing care of an inflicted individual, the symptoms and the nature of the condition can play a major impact on the final result. Here are the main differences between these two afflictions:

1. Progression of the disease

The key difference here is that ALS is a progressive condition, which means that the symptoms worsen over time and ultimately, may result in death. 

Cerebral palsy normally never progresses past a certain point, especially if it’s diagnosed early and treated as soon as possible. Thus, the severity of the disease can be notably reduced with early interventions. 

2. Different causes

Since cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage, it can have a variety of causes, mostly related to complications that can lead to oxygen deprivation to the baby. 

With ALS, it’s a lot more complicated. Up to 10% of instances of this condition are the result of a genetic mutation, which is why it’s referred to as familial ALS. For most other diagnoses, there is no known cause. Currently, specialists believe that some environmental factors may increase the risk of ALS, like exposure to toxins, service in the military, and smoking.

3. Age of onset

Cerebral palsy usually occurs very early, either during childbirth or when the child is a toddler. 

ALS, on the other hand, can come about at any age. Most commonly, first symptoms start appearing between the ages of 55 to 75. 

4. Outlook

Cerebral palsy is certainly a challenging condition, still, it has a hopeful prognosis. This is more so true for those with mild to moderate symptoms who can eventually become completely independent while successfully managing their symptoms. 

ALS, unfortunately, doesn’t have a positive outcome and most patients die within five years of being diagnosed, largely because of respiratory failure. Only about 10% of patients survive ten years or longer. 

How A Life Care Plan Can Help

Due to the severity of the condition and prognosis, life care plans for individuals with ALS will cover a shorter time frame. Yet, having an accurate breakdown of all associated care costs makes a world difference in the comfort level of the patient.

With cerebral palsy, the situation iss similar, and the life care plan will depend on the acuteness of symptoms, as well as the child’s life expectancy.

If a family member is suffering from either condition, the only way to provide them with everything they need is through life care planning services. If you don’t know whom to turn to, your best bet is to contact OAS.

We’ve been at the forefront of life care planning services industry for multiple decades, and our experts have always demonstrated an outstanding level of expertise and compassion.

Start giving a loved one the level of care they deserve by calling 800-292-1919.