ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive disorder that is inherited or acquired. It affects motor neurons. Motor neurons are cells that are in the brain, brain stem and spinal cord and their function is to carry an electrical signal to a muscle and trigger it to contract or relax. Medical terminology, a means without, my is muscle and trophic is nourishment. Lateral is pertaining to the side/direction that is affected and sclerosis is an abnormal condition of hardening.…
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a degenerative disease that affects the neurons responsible for voluntary muscle control. Motor neurons are responsible for movement and to cause movement need to receive electrochemical messages from the brain and spinal cord(the central nervous system). When the brain sends a message to the rest of your body telling it how to move, the message first starts in the brain. These neurons in the brain, called upper neurons, then send the message to the spinal cord’s lower neurons to be sent out to the motor neurons in the rest of the body. In patients with ALS, both of the lower and upper neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) degenerate and die, causing loss of muscle control and paralysis.…
Imagine reaching out to grab the phone but for some odd reason, it was not possible. You then realize your arm has simply become numb and that soon, it will return to normal. But what if it never did? People suffering with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, experience this everyday until the entire body has become permanently “numb”. This terminal disease affects all but one organ in the person’s body, the brain.…
Changes in Tissue Homeostasis of the Elderly That Result in Altered Cognitive; Motor Abilities. As we age, homeostasis is harder to achieve within all of our cells. The cardiac muscle tissue and the walls of the blood vessels thicken, decreasing the amount of oxygen and nutrients that is pumped out to the entire body. The thickness of the blood vessels makes it hard for nutrients to enter the other tissues body, and for wastes to leave these tissues.…
Elliott is a 12 year old young carer for his mother who suffers with Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis and Arthritis. Elliott was referred to us by his school in January 2014, Bishop Vesey Grammar School, as he had expressed concern about his mother’s back trouble and his caring role at home. Elliott lives in Edington with his mother, father and younger sister who also receives support from the Release project, and has recently been diagnosed with ADHD. Elliott is the main carer within the family home, due to dad working full time.…
The development of many diseases that are located in the brain are linked to the developmental complications of aging. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is an uncommon disease that is known for the degeneration of motor neurons in the brain. The motor neurons that are affected control voluntary movement within the body; the degeneration of these motor neurons cause weakness throughout the body and muscles, paralysis, sclerosis and respiratory failure (Uccelli et al., 2007). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is considered a degenerative disease because it most commonly affects people ages 65-74 with men being diagnosed more than women. There is no cure for this degenerative disease and there are also no treatment plans to those that are diagnosed (Uccelli…
Motor neuron disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a disease affecting the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. This disease most often occurs in people between the age of 40 and 70. According to the ALS association, military veterans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with ALS. The reason for this is unknown. Currently there is no treatment that can halt or reverse the effects of the disease.…
In recent history, there have been remarkable breakthroughs in medical technology. The advent of vaccinations, HIV AIDS treatment options and targeted chemotherapy are all incredible discoveries that have saved millions of lives. However, recent research into the application of regenerative therapies using stem cells has loomed over most other discoveries as possibly the most important breakthrough in recent history. Because stem cells are so versatile, they could be be used to treat diseases such as Parkinson's, cancer and immune disorders. The possibilities of what stem cells can cure is nearly incomprehensibly they are so far reaching.…
Fox, actor (see graphic 2), was diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease at the early age of 29 (Michael J. Fox Foundation, N.D.). As the symptoms progressed, Fox stepped away from acting and more into his disease. He founded the Michael J. Fox foundation that educates others of this disease and accepts donations to fund research for a cure as well as new treatments. Now being 53 years old, Michael J. Fox is considered “the most credible voice of Parkinson’s research in the world”, (Michael J. Fox Foundation, N.D.), and he shows no signs of stopping yet.…
With the capacity to treat major diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, embryonic stem cells have come a long way from their contentious debut nearly two decades ago. Still, not everybody is onboard due to longstanding,…
“Embryonic stem cell research will prolong life, improve life and give hope for life to millions of people.” This quote by Jim Ramstad is about the benefits of Embryonic Stem Cell Research. “Stem cells provide an opportunity to investigate the mechanisms that regulate embryonic development, cellular differentiation, and organ maintenance” (Ramalho-Santos and Willenbring 35-38). Embryonic stem cell research has been around for many years. It has proven to be very beneficial to the medical world, but not enough research is being done to further the development which could help many people with muscle loss and deterioration of cells.…
Early Onset Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease is typically a disease associated with old age, and the majority of Alzheimer's patients are seniors. There are two different kinds of Alzheimer's, however, and early-onset Alzheimer's can strike people of any age, though it most often manifests in the 40's and 50s. Early-onset Alzheimer's is said to account for approximately 5 percent of those afflicted with the disease.…
Alzheimer 's disease Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and other systems of the body. The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord. The digestive system is affected by Alzheimer 's, this system includes; the mouth with salivary glands and teeth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, rectum, and anus. The Urinary system includes the kidneys, ureter, urinary bladder, and the urethra. The neuromuscular system is affected as the disease progresses, this includes the nerves and muscles of the body.…
Zac Flint Memory The effects of Alzheimer’s on memory is something I have seen for myself. When I was in middle school we had my grandma move in with us due to the difficulties of Alzheimer’s. We were able to be there for her and help her more than my grandpa was able to do. So I know how this disease can slowly change someone over time.…
Stem cells are cells that have the ability to self-renew and differentiate to become a myriad of different cell types. They serve as an internal repair system, with the purpose of replenishing or damaged cells. They can be found in various microenvironments within the tissues called stem cell niches cells, some examples of these include include the brain, bone marrow, blood vessels, skin, teeth, heart, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord, etc. Typically, there are only a small number of stem cells in each tissue, and once they are removed their ability to divide and regenerate are limited. Stem cells, biologically, can constantly generate unaltered daughters, as well as have the ability to generate daughter cells will different and more restricted…