Is it accurate to classify ALS as a neuromuscular disorder?

ALS exhibits the cardinal features of a neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, classifying ALS as a neuromuscular disease in the strict sense has become untenable. Diagnosing ALS however does require significant neuromuscular expertise and therefore neuromuscular specialists remain best equipped to evaluate this category of patients. Designating motor neuron diseases as a separate category in the ICD-11 is justified and adequately deals with this issue. However, to drive effective therapy development the fields of motor neuron disease and neurodegenerative disorders must come together.