Which degenerative disease is associated with fatal respiratory failure due to muscle weakness?

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative disease that primarily affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. As these neurons progressively degenerate, they lead to muscle weakness and atrophy, impacting various voluntary muscle functions, including those necessary for breathing. The respiratory muscles, particularly the diaphragm, can become weak, resulting in inadequate ventilation and ultimately respiratory failure. This decline in respiratory function is often one of the most critical and fatal aspects of ALS, as patients may struggle with shallow breathing and reduced ability to clear secretions.

In contrast, amniotic fluid embolism is a sudden and severe complication during pregnancy, chronic bronchitis is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease characterized by inflammation of the airways, and interstitial lung disease refers to a group of disorders affecting the lung interstitium and is primarily associated with lung stiffness rather than muscle weakness. Each of these conditions has distinct mechanisms and consequences that do not involve the direct muscle degeneration leading to respiratory failure as seen in ALS.