Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. “A” means no, “Mount” refers to the muscle and “Trophic” means nourishment. Together, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis means that there is no muscle nourishment around the lateral portions of the spinal cord, causing scarring and hardening in the region.

There are two forms of ALS, sporadic and familial. Sporadic ALS is much more common and can affect everybody. In contrast, familial ALS is hereditary.

The onset of ALS often involves muscle weakness or stiffness as early symptoms. It eventually progresses to wasting and paralysis of muscles. The average survival time for patients with ALS is 3 years while about 5 percent will live 20 years or more.

Progressive degeneration of motor neurons between the brain to the spinal cord and the spinal cord to the muscles results in the loss of voluntary movements and muscle control.

As a result, patients with ALS may be unable to eat, speak, move and breathe.

Stephen Hawking famously suffered from ALS. He was diagnosed with the disease at 21, and was not expected to live past the age of 25. However, he beat the odds and lived to the age of 76, achieving much success despite living with the motor neuron disease for more than 50 years.

Sources:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/stephen-hawking-als/

https://www.als.org/understanding-als/what-is-als

https://www.als.org/understanding-als/stages

https://www.als.org/understanding-als/who-gets-als

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354022#

https://theconversation.com/als-scientific-breakthrough-diabetes-drug-metformin-shows-promise-in-mouse-study-for-a-common-type-of-als-142340

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