Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Pop Star Jason beckeris surviving it.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease, is a disease that attacks the nerve cells (motor neurons) that control muscles. It gets worse over time (is progressive). Motor neurons carry messages about movement from the brain to the muscles, but in ALS the motor neurons degenerate and die; therefore, the messages to move no longer get to the muscles. When muscles aren't used for a long time, they weaken, waste away (atrophy), and twitch under the skin (fasciculate).
Eventually, all the muscles that a person can control (voluntary muscles) are affected. People with ALS lose the ability to move their arms, legs, mouth, and body. It may get to the point that the muscles used for breathing are affected, and the person might need a respirator (ventilator) in order to breathe. People with ALS can live 3 to 10 years or more after diagnosis.
Eventually, all the muscles that a person can control (voluntary muscles) are affected. People with ALS lose the ability to move their arms, legs, mouth, and body. It may get to the point that the muscles used for breathing are affected, and the person might need a respirator (ventilator) in order to breathe. People with ALS can live 3 to 10 years or more after diagnosis.
Mental changesFor a long time it was believed that ALS only affected muscles. It is now known that one-third to one-half of individuals with ALS experience some changes in thinking (cognition). The disease can also cause changes in personality and behavior.
Who gets it?
People are most commonly diagnosed with ALS between the ages of 40 and 70, but younger people can also develop it. ALS affects people all over the world, in all ethnic backgrounds. Men are affected more often than women. About 90-95% of ALS cases appear at random, meaning no one in the person's family has the disorder. In about 5-10% of cases, a family member also has the disorder.
What causes it?
The exact cause of ALS is not known. In 1991, researchers identified a link between ALS and Chromosome 21. Two years later, a particular gene, SOD1, was identified as being associated with about 20% of the inherited cases in families. SOD1 controls an enzyme that breaks down free radicals, harmful particles that attacks cells from the inside and cause their death. Since not all inherited cases are connected to this gene, and some people are the only ones in their families with ALS, other genetic causes must exist.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Usually ALS comes on slowly, starting out as weakness in one or more muscles. Only one leg or arm may be affected. People notice that they stumble, having trouble lifting things, or have trouble with using their hands. As the disease progresses, the person with ALS will not be able to stand or walk, have trouble moving around, and trouble talking and swallowing. The diagnosis of ALS is based on the symptoms and signs the physician observes, as well as tests eliminating all the other possibilities, such as multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, or infectious diseases.
Treatment
There is as yet no cure for ALS. Treatments are designed to relieve the symptoms and improve the quality of life for people with the disorder. Medications can help reduce fatigue, ease muscle cramps, and lessen pain. There is also a specific medication for ALS, called Rilutek (riluzole). It does not repair the damage already done to the body, but appears to be modestly effective in prolonging the survival of people with ALS. Through physical therapy, special equipment, and speech therapy, people with ALS can remain mobile and able to communicate.
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