Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal neurological disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and paralysis. The exact causes are unknown but may include genetic and environmental factors. Symptoms start with muscle weakness and progress to include slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and eventually paralysis of the diaphragm leading to respiratory failure. While there is no cure, treatments can help manage symptoms and some medications may slow disease progression. The average life expectancy is 2-5 years from diagnosis but can vary significantly.

1. Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis
Presented by Nawab
Khatoon
Presented to Sir Kashif
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Bs biscience

2. What is Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis?

3. Lou Gehrig's Disease
also called as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
But
What is Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis?
"a" for without
"myo" for muscle
"trophic" for nourishment
"lateral" for side (of the spinal cord)
"sclerosis" for hardening or scarring
•It’s a fatal disease of nervous system,
characterized by progressive muscle
weakness resulting in paralysis.

6. Causes:
What causes ALS isn’t known, but according to some theories
which states that:
•Genetic Factor: 5 to 10% ALS cases are familial meaning that
another person in the family has previously been diagnosed with
the disease.
-- 20% are linked to a mutation in the SOD1 gene
-- Only a small amount is linked with mutant gene
•Glutamate: which is responsible for transmitting many of the
messages between nerve cells in the brain. When glutamate isn't
removed from the spaces between the nerve cells (called
synapses), it builds up and causes an overflow of calcium into
motor neurons. This eventually leads to destruction of nerve
cells.
•environmental factors :such as heavy metal exposure leads to
damage nerve.
•Viral infections: are yet another factor that may play a role in
the development of ALS.
•Free Radicals:
•Active chemical
• can damage motor neuron

7. Some Facts about ALS
•Up to 7 out of every 100,00 people get
ALS. Its more common in men then in
women, with symptoms usually
appearing between the ages 50 and 75.
• About 10% of people with ALS have a
family history of the disease life
expectancy averages

9. Signs and Symptoms
Dysphagia:
-- observed in children as well as adults
-- Difficulty in swallowing food or liquid stuff
Weakness in Muscles:
--More than 60% patients who unknowingly
suffer from ALS, show this symptom.
--fatigue in the muscles of the arms and legs,
muscle cramps, muscle pain, not being able to
lift things or dropping them.
Slurred Speech
Losing Control over Laughing and Crying
Muscle Cramps
Loss of Balance
Overall Weakness and Fatigue
Breathing difficulties

10. Bulbar Als Onset
•Condition where the disorder strikes the
tongue rather than limbs
•Pons an medulla area of brain stem was
known the pons or bulbar area of the brain
•The nerves on the facial region that are
connected with the bulb region of the brain
controls Throat, jaw, tongue and face
•Als disease causes the death of nerves of face
or bulbar region and decreases functioning of
motor neuron, resulting in spastic bulbar palsy
Q) What are Bulbar ALS problems?
1. Slurred speech
2. difficulty in swallowing and chewing food

11. DDiddds

12. When the muscles get progressively weaker,
especially if a person's sensations aren't at all
impaired, doctors will suspect ALS. A series of
tests may be needed to rule out other potential
causes for symptoms.
 Electromyography(EMG):is used to determine
whether the problem is in muscle or the nerve
cells .This test works by measuring the electrical
activity in the muscle
 Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV)
 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): scan of
the head or spine may be used to exclude
other conditions that can damage or
compress nerve cells such as tumors or
degenerative disc disease.
 The physician may order tests on blood and
urine samples to eliminate the possibility of
other diseases as well as routine laboratory
tests

13. Average Life Expectancy Of Als
Patient after it is Diagnosed??

14. Although the life expectancy of an ALS
patient averages about two to five years
from the time of diagnosis, this disease
is variable and many people live with
quality for five years and more. More
than half of all patients live more than
three years after diagnosis.
Most people with ALS survive
only two to five years after
diagnosis. Hawking, on the
other hand, has lived more
than 40 years since he learned
he had the disease, which is
also known as Lou Gehrig's
Disease or ALS.

16. Currently, there's no way to prevent or cure Lou Gehrig's disease, but a number
of treatments are available to people with the disease.
1. Medicines can control symptoms, such as muscle cramping and difficulty
swallowing, and other drugs can slow the development of the disease.
2. Physical therapy can help people with ALS cope with muscle loss and
breathing problems
3. Special equipment is also provided when it becomes necessary. For
instance, a power wheelchair can enable a paralyzed person with ALS to get
around. A machine called a ventilator can help a someone breathe.
4. Riluzole* is a medication that appears to prolong the life of some people
with ALS by at least a few months. Riluzole seems to do two things: slow the
release of glutamate from neurons and block its effects on glutamate
receptors.
5. Vitamins that help to slow down ALS
--- Vitamin B-1
--- Vitamin B-12
--- Vitamin C and Vitamin E

17. A nurse or other health assistant may
come to the person's home to provide
care that the family cannot handle
alone.
A power wheelchair can
enable a paralyzed person
with ALS to get around.
A machine called a
ventilator can help
someone to breathe.

18. • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a mysterious disease
• Neither an exact cause for the damage of neuron nor a specific
treatment found that can completely cure this disease
• But there are some treatments available which can help to
decrease the intensity of early symptoms of ALS
• But experts have not quite yet!
research is still going on.