Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Papers

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease. According to Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases (2009), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) can be defined as a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive muscular paralysis reflecting degeneration and death of motor neurons in the primary motor cortex, brainstem and spinal cord. In other words, it is a disease that attacks the cells responsible for controlling the muscle action we are able to control, such as those in the arms, legs and face.
According to research, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) was first discovered in 1869 by French neurologist Jean Martin Charcot and it was described then as a clinic-pathological entity. However, it was not until 19398, the disease was recognized both nationally and …show more content…
Among all the neuromuscular diseases worldwide, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is the most common and it affects people of all race and ethnic background. The disease usually strikes person between the ages of forty and sixty years, but that age is not final as younger persons can be affected as well. In terms of sex, males are at a higher risk than females to be affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) has two different types which are Sporadic and Familial. The most common type is Sporadic and it is the one that occurs in ninety to ninety-five percent of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) cases in the United States. This type appears at random and has no hereditary factor associated with it, and it can affect anyone. The other five to ten percent of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) cases are Familial. This case is when the disease is inherited, and it is passed on if one parent has the gene responsible for the