Imagine sitting in a chair watching television and wanting to change the channel but the only thing that you can movie is your eyes. This is what a person with a progressed state of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis goes through on a daily basis.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease is a progressive neurological disease that affects the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord. For some reason the motor neurons associated with ALS degenerate and eventually die off affecting the muscles and physical functions. ALS only affects voluntary muscles; therefore, involuntary muscles such as the heart, lungs, and senses are usually left unaffected. Broken down, amyotrophic means no muscle nourishment, lateral identifies the areas …show more content…
90 to 95 percent of all cases are sporadic (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet, 2013). Sporadic ALS occurs randomly with no association to any risk factors or such. There are no signs of family history and their family members are not at risk for getting it. Only five to ten percent is familial or inherited. ALS is a dominant gene, therefore only one parent has to have it and there is a 50 percent chance of it being passed onto offspring. There is current research conducted by Betsy A. Hosler, PhD, to relate a defective gene in chromosome 9 to be the cause of about one-third of familial cases (Chromosome 9; Defective Gene Located on Specific Chromosome Linked to ALS and Frontotemporal Dementia, 2000). Although the function of this gene is still unknown, researchers hope this may be a breakthrough to ultimately lead to new treatment …show more content…
Early symptoms may include fasciculation, or small twitches, cramps, tight and stiff muscles, muscle weakness affecting an arm or a leg, slurred and nasal speech, or difficulty chewing or swallowing (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet, 2013). These symptoms can develop into more obvious weakness and atrophy causing a physician to suspect ALS. A physician will perform a series of tests including, but not limited to, electromyography, a nerve conduction study, a MRI, blood or urine workup. Based off the findings and elimination of other diseases, the physician will make the proper diagnosis. To be diagnosed with ALS, signs and symptoms of both upper and lower motor neuron damage must be present. Upper motor neuron damage includes spasticity, exaggerated reflexes, and the Babinski’s sign. Lower motor neuron damage includes muscle weakness and atrophy, muscle cramps, and fasciculations (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet,
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease is a progressive neurological disease that affects the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord. For some reason the motor neurons associated with ALS degenerate and eventually die off affecting the muscles and physical functions. ALS only affects voluntary muscles; therefore, involuntary muscles such as the heart, lungs, and senses are usually left unaffected. Broken down, amyotrophic means no muscle nourishment, lateral identifies the areas …show more content…
90 to 95 percent of all cases are sporadic (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet, 2013). Sporadic ALS occurs randomly with no association to any risk factors or such. There are no signs of family history and their family members are not at risk for getting it. Only five to ten percent is familial or inherited. ALS is a dominant gene, therefore only one parent has to have it and there is a 50 percent chance of it being passed onto offspring. There is current research conducted by Betsy A. Hosler, PhD, to relate a defective gene in chromosome 9 to be the cause of about one-third of familial cases (Chromosome 9; Defective Gene Located on Specific Chromosome Linked to ALS and Frontotemporal Dementia, 2000). Although the function of this gene is still unknown, researchers hope this may be a breakthrough to ultimately lead to new treatment …show more content…
Early symptoms may include fasciculation, or small twitches, cramps, tight and stiff muscles, muscle weakness affecting an arm or a leg, slurred and nasal speech, or difficulty chewing or swallowing (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet, 2013). These symptoms can develop into more obvious weakness and atrophy causing a physician to suspect ALS. A physician will perform a series of tests including, but not limited to, electromyography, a nerve conduction study, a MRI, blood or urine workup. Based off the findings and elimination of other diseases, the physician will make the proper diagnosis. To be diagnosed with ALS, signs and symptoms of both upper and lower motor neuron damage must be present. Upper motor neuron damage includes spasticity, exaggerated reflexes, and the Babinski’s sign. Lower motor neuron damage includes muscle weakness and atrophy, muscle cramps, and fasciculations (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet,