The Truth About ALS and CTE: Can They Be Stopped? Imagine being trapped inside your own body; powerless, unable to do anything on your own. Thinking about old memories and just wishing for the chance to relive those happy moments when you are capable of doing the simplest jobs on your own. That is exactly how a person feels when they have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. ALS is a fatal neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells, which control one's muscle movements. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy(CTE) is a degenerative disease that occurs when one has repetitive brain trauma. CTE is a deadly disease that attacks the brain and can change the sweetest person into a monster. These diseases occur
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Gleason was on the New Orleans Saints and is well known for his blocked punt in 2006. In 2011, Gleason revealed that he was battling ALS. Gleason is a popular symbol in New Orleans and he shows his faith and hope for himself and others that are going through the same heartbreaking disease. It is his mission to stay positive and he is the founder of The Gleason Initiative Foundation Mission. He paired up with Microsoft to help those in need that are struggling with the disease. Steve Gleason and Microsoft give people the chance to accept the same treatment Steve gets. Steve Gleason is still alive and to this day he gets around by an electric wheelchair and he can communicate with others by his eye …show more content…
CTE has been around since the 1920s and studies show that repetitive head trauma is a major cause to this disease. CTE has been most commonly found in athletes participating in football, boxing, soccer, and other contact sports. Diagnosis of CTE can only be proven after death. Reports show that there is degeneration of the brain tissue and bleeding in the brain. Tau Protein has been found in the brains of many football players which is also linked to Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's, and Dementia. It is a confusing time for athletes while going through this disease because they don't know exactly what is wrong with them. During the time of this progressing disease others will start to notice some big personality changes. If a person is diagnosed with CTE they will have impulsive behavior and will have a high risk for
Gleason was on the New Orleans Saints and is well known for his blocked punt in 2006. In 2011, Gleason revealed that he was battling ALS. Gleason is a popular symbol in New Orleans and he shows his faith and hope for himself and others that are going through the same heartbreaking disease. It is his mission to stay positive and he is the founder of The Gleason Initiative Foundation Mission. He paired up with Microsoft to help those in need that are struggling with the disease. Steve Gleason and Microsoft give people the chance to accept the same treatment Steve gets. Steve Gleason is still alive and to this day he gets around by an electric wheelchair and he can communicate with others by his eye …show more content…
CTE has been around since the 1920s and studies show that repetitive head trauma is a major cause to this disease. CTE has been most commonly found in athletes participating in football, boxing, soccer, and other contact sports. Diagnosis of CTE can only be proven after death. Reports show that there is degeneration of the brain tissue and bleeding in the brain. Tau Protein has been found in the brains of many football players which is also linked to Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's, and Dementia. It is a confusing time for athletes while going through this disease because they don't know exactly what is wrong with them. During the time of this progressing disease others will start to notice some big personality changes. If a person is diagnosed with CTE they will have impulsive behavior and will have a high risk for