ALS care at Mayo Clinic

Your Mayo Clinic care team

Mayo Clinic was one of the first in the United States to create a multidisciplinary ALS clinic to care for people with ALS. ALS clinics are part of all three Mayo Clinic campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. They have all been designated Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence by the ALS Association.

At Mayo Clinic, you'll receive comprehensive care from a team of experts and specialists. Mayo Clinic experts trained in neuromuscular conditions (neurologists) work closely with specialists from other areas to provide multidisciplinary care in a single visit. Those specialists may include experts in lung diseases (pulmonologists); ear, nose and throat specialists; interventional radiologists; clinical nurse specialists; specialists trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatrists); and supportive care (palliative medicine).

Your team also may include:

  • Physical therapists who can help with mobility and safety.
  • Occupational therapists who help people with ALS learn how to use adaptive equipment.
  • Speech therapists trained to help people with ALS who have trouble swallowing or who need speech-generating devices.
  • Respiratory therapists.
  • Nutrition specialists, also known as dietitians.
  • Nurse coordinators.
  • Social workers.
  • Sleep specialists.
  • Representatives from the ALS Association to connect families with support groups and other resources.

Each member of your care team brings knowledge and expertise to your care, which benefits you.

Mayo Clinic specialists diagnose and treat more than 880 people with ALS each year.

Advanced diagnosis and treatment

Mayo Clinic's state-of-the-art equipment offers a diagnostic environment rarely found elsewhere. Mayo Clinic was the first medical center in North America to use the 7-Tesla MRI after it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This highly specialized MRI provides detailed images that help guide diagnosis and treatment.

Mayo Clinic researchers also worked to develop a lab test called a neurofilament light chain test and made it available worldwide. Neurofilament light chain is a marker for several conditions, including ALS. The test can help guide treatment decisions for people who have neurological disorders.

In addition, Mayo Clinic specialists run other diagnostic tests such as electromyograms and nerve conduction studies. These tests help provide a diagnosis and guide treatment.

People with ALS also have the opportunity to join Mayo Clinic's clinical research trials. Mayo Clinic researchers continue to look for biomarkers and novel therapies for ALS. Find out more about ALS clinical trials at Mayo Clinic.

Expertise and rankings

Mayo Clinic campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota are Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence by the ALS Association.

Learn more about Mayo Clinic's neurology department's expertise and rankings.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings.

Locations, travel and lodging

Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:

Costs and insurance

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.

Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.