Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease characterized by the death of nerve cells in brain and spinal cord. These specific nerves cells are called motor neurons. This cell death results in loss of ability to move parts of the body. ALS is commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease. It is fairly rare. The incidence of this disease in the United States is about one or two per hundred thousand.
Causes of ALS
The exact cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is often unknown. About one in every ten cases is inherited. The other 90% of cases seem to be random. Following are some possible causes of ALS:
- free radicals
- glutamate (higher than normal levels are seen in ALS patients)
- autoimmune responses
Risk Factors for ALS
There are factors that can increase the risk of ALS. Some examples include the fact that men are somewhat more likely to have ALS than women. Another example is that the disease is more prevalent in middle-aged and older adults even though it can occur at any age, but the disparity in incidence of ALS between the sexes ends at age 65. The group most likely to have ALS is ages 40 to 60.
Geography may also be a risk factor. People living in places Guam, Japan and other places are at higher risk. Dietary factors might be to blame. People who have served in the military also run an increased risk of ALS.
Symptoms of ALS
ALS symptoms often begin in the hand or arm. From there, the weakness spreads to both arms and legs. These symptoms occur as motor neurons die and muscles are no longer getting signals to move. Over time, this causes those muscles to further weaken and shirk in size.
A list of symptoms includes:
- difficulty lifting the front part of the foot
- problems using the hands or fingers while doing tasks
- muscle cramps and twitching
- issues with swallowing,breathing or speech
ALS doesn't, however, usually affect cognition or memory.
Diagnosing ALS
It can sometimes prove difficult to diagnose ALS. A doctor might not be able to make such a diagnosis until symptoms worsen. Various tests will be run to determined if a patient does indeed have ALS. Also a physical exam will be done. These following examples are some of the tests that might be run to confirm a diagnosis.
- EMG
- nerve conduction study
- muscle biopsy
- blood tests
- urine tests
- spinal tap
- CT scan
- MRI
People suspected of having ALS might also be sent to a neurologist by their primary doctor.
Treatment Options for ALS
While there is no cure for ALS at the time, there are ways of managing pain and staying independent and strong for as long as possible. Such treatment options include the following:
- medications
- physical therapy
- occupational therapy
- speech therapy
Working closely with the patient's doctor is important. Also crucial is having a good network of support.
Source:
mayoclinic.com, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (accessed April,16,2010)
WebMd.com, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Overview (accessed April,16,2010)
Angela Pichon - Angela Pichon currently lives outside Denver, Colorado. She is a stay-at-home mom to a baby girl and is expecting again. She is also very ...
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