Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease in which there is a loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, this disease is incurable therefore leading to paralysis and death. The particular two studies discussed will be based on how biomarkers (a tool used by scientist to determine the biological pathways and the progress of the disease) can help find a cure for ALS by creating an effective drug and most importantly early detection. Mice were used as a transgenic model once they had SOD1 G93A gene mutation they discovered the mice developed neurodegeneration of spinal motor neurons and motor deficits which when compared to ALS is very alike. One effective biomarker is the use of plasma amino acid analysis since mice with SOD G93A have a change in their plasma amino acids. When mice without SOD1 G93A were studied along with mice who had the mutation they noticed a change in the mutant mice’s amino acid concentrations specifically: cysteine,
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As of June 2016 about 12,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with ALS. ALS affects mainly white males and non-Hispanics Americans from the ages of 60-69 years and 90% to 95% of these cases have nothing to do with the genetics of the individual. Some major effects are paralysis, respiratory issues, muscle degeneration, muscle loss and patients will live for about three to five years after being diagnosed from respiratory problems. There are also issues which occur from a cellular standpoint such as blood brain barrier disruption, motor neuron loss, motor neurons being retracted from its neuromuscular junctions. Another reason why ALS is difficult to diagnosis is due to the fact that environmental reasons can cause it for example a traumatic experience while serving duty, being exposed to toxins and one’s gender (men are more prone to the disease than
As of June 2016 about 12,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with ALS. ALS affects mainly white males and non-Hispanics Americans from the ages of 60-69 years and 90% to 95% of these cases have nothing to do with the genetics of the individual. Some major effects are paralysis, respiratory issues, muscle degeneration, muscle loss and patients will live for about three to five years after being diagnosed from respiratory problems. There are also issues which occur from a cellular standpoint such as blood brain barrier disruption, motor neuron loss, motor neurons being retracted from its neuromuscular junctions. Another reason why ALS is difficult to diagnosis is due to the fact that environmental reasons can cause it for example a traumatic experience while serving duty, being exposed to toxins and one’s gender (men are more prone to the disease than