The importance of non-motor symptoms in the clinical picture of motor neuron disease
Non-motor symptoms are an obligate sign of motor neuron disease and can often serve as a rather sensitive indicator of the general functional state of ALS patients. Gastrointestinal disorders, weight loss, pain, sweating and anxiety prevail in the structure of non-motor symptoms in ALS patients.
The presence of non-motor symptoms in patients indicates the multisystemic nature of this fatal disease.
The use of Non-Motor Symptom Scale (NMS) in patients with ALS in the early stages will allow neurologists to detect non-motor symptoms timely.
Key words: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, non-motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms scale, edaravone, ALSFRS-R scale.