ALS is a gruesome disease that affects thousands of people a year. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is neurodegenerative disease, the causes of ALS remain a mystery, and ALS also has wide range of symptoms, not much treatment is available, and new studies are performed daily involving ALS.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or “Lou Gehrig’s disease” is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord (What is ALS, Nov 30, 2014). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a rapidly progressive disease that attacks neurons that are responsible for controlling voluntary muscle groups. Motor neurons are the neurons that are located in the brain (upper motor neurons), brain stem, and spinal cord (lower motor neurons). These different parts serve as communications links between the nervous system and voluntary muscles of the body. With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, the upper and lower motor neurons die. Therefore the messages are no longer sent from the brain to muscles and the muscles weaken and waste away. The wasting away of muscles is known as atrophy (ALS Fact Sheet, Nov 30, 2014). With more research and money being put into solving Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis the cause of ALS may be determined soon. Scientists are also studying the role of environmental factors …show more content…
As the disease continues to progress some of the symptoms can include muscle weakness in the hands, arms, legs, and the muscles of speech. More symptoms include twitching and cramping of the muscles in the feet and hands, impairment of the arms and legs, difficulty projecting the voice, and the possibility of difficulty breathing and swallowing. The rate at which symptoms appear can range widely from person to person. No matter the severity of how the disease affects a person, progressive muscle weakness and paralysis are a constant with everyone who suffers from ALS (Symptoms, Nov 30,
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or “Lou Gehrig’s disease” is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord (What is ALS, Nov 30, 2014). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a rapidly progressive disease that attacks neurons that are responsible for controlling voluntary muscle groups. Motor neurons are the neurons that are located in the brain (upper motor neurons), brain stem, and spinal cord (lower motor neurons). These different parts serve as communications links between the nervous system and voluntary muscles of the body. With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, the upper and lower motor neurons die. Therefore the messages are no longer sent from the brain to muscles and the muscles weaken and waste away. The wasting away of muscles is known as atrophy (ALS Fact Sheet, Nov 30, 2014). With more research and money being put into solving Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis the cause of ALS may be determined soon. Scientists are also studying the role of environmental factors …show more content…
As the disease continues to progress some of the symptoms can include muscle weakness in the hands, arms, legs, and the muscles of speech. More symptoms include twitching and cramping of the muscles in the feet and hands, impairment of the arms and legs, difficulty projecting the voice, and the possibility of difficulty breathing and swallowing. The rate at which symptoms appear can range widely from person to person. No matter the severity of how the disease affects a person, progressive muscle weakness and paralysis are a constant with everyone who suffers from ALS (Symptoms, Nov 30,