The Impact Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

The Impact Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects
nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord (Plowman, 2015, p.1151). The motor neurons reach from the
brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles in the body. When ALS is in a
degenerate stage, this causes paralyzation and loss of muscle control, which can lead to one's death.
The ALS Association is a national nonprofit organization that is dedicated to fighting Lou Gehrig's
disease by providing support and information to those that have this disease, as well as spreading
awareness effective for change. The ALS Association aims to discover new treatment for those
living with Lou Gehrig's disease, while actively seeking a cure ... Show more content on
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Social media was very effective in this campaign because the audience was able to participate in a
more active stance and allow their video postings to reach not only their followers but others as
well. Social media is very inclusive of all age groups and various types of people and is more
influential than a commercial on a given channel that may or may not reach the same wide audience.
Social media encourages having a conversation which is a 2 way communication process between
the audience and the organization. The ALS Association was able to communicate with their
audience using social media and the videos posted by their audience helped their cause in a positive
way. Social media also allowed the organization to keep track of what is going on with their
audience in response to their campaign. According to Sutton & Paulson, theory of planned behavior
(TPB), there are three major determinants that permit the explanation and prediction of most human
social behavior – attitudes, perceived norms, and perceptions of behavioral control (2016, p.411).
With social media, theory of planned behavior comes into play because majority of the participants
perceived social media, and making their own videos, as a social norm that was deemed socially
acceptable during the campaign. Participants had a positive experience while making their social
media video, which
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Paper
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a disease in which certain nerve cells in the brain and spinal
cord slowly die. These nerve cells are also called motor neurons, and they control the voluntary
muscles that allow you to move the parts of your body. ALS can also be referred to as Lou Gehrig's
disease. (1) There are three classifications of ALS; sporadic, familial, and gumanian. Sporadic is the
most common form of ALS and it makes up approximately 90 to 95 percent of all cases. Familial is
the form of ALS that occurs in a family's genetic line, a 50 percent chance each offspring will inherit
the gene mutation. This form of ALS makes up about 5 to 10 percent of all cases in the U.S. the last
form of ALS is Gumanian, an extremely high incidence of this ALS was observed in Guam and the
Trust Territories of the Pacific in the 1950's. (3) People who develop ALS are most often between
the ages of 40 and 70, with the average age of 55 at the time of diagnosis. However, cases of this
disease do occur in people younger than 40, some even as young as their twenties and thirties. ALS
is also more common in women than it is in men, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
These symptoms include muscle twitching, Trouble using your hands and fingers for a specific task,
problems with speaking, eating and swallowing, walking, and even breathing. ALS can also cause
problems with memory, thinking, and can cause changes in personality a well. Despite what movies
might have portrayed, ALS does not cause numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling. However,
respiratory problems and problems with swallowing are the most common serious complications of
ALS. As the muscles in the throat and chest weaken, swallowing, coughing and breathing problems
tend to get worse. ALS can also cause a number of other problems as well. Pneumonia, pulmonary
embolism, lung failure, and heart failure are the most common causes of death, and are also side
effects of having ALS.

Causes of and Treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) otherwise known as
Lou Gehrig's disease in the U.S. is a widely known debilitating disease that effects the upper and
lower motor neurons in the nervous system. The degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons
in turn cause muscle atrophy and chronic loss of muscle use. ALS is the most common of the five
motor neuron disease. Heredity is a major cause of ALS but can show up in any patients. ALS
usually presents itself in late middle age but can show up in children and even young adults. The
cause of ALS is not known. It seems to be caused by a genetic mutation, but the mutation has to
have an environmental trigger to cause the disease. In the past the disease was believed to have one
cause, but that does not hold true to current findings. The majority of ALS cases are sporadic in
nature and can pop up anywhere, but 5 to 10 percent of cases has some sort of heredity involved.
What is interesting is that sporadic ALS and familial ALS may have the same genetic mutation and
the environment is the key factor in contracting the disease. Some of the signs and symptoms of Lou
Gehrig's disease is loss of voluntary muscle use. Cramping and twitching is common as the
degrading axons become damaged and cannot transmit the action potential needed to muscle
contraction. Sometimes symptoms start showing up in a specific region but can be mild loss of use
to multiple areas also. The loss of use of

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Long before Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis was brought to the world's spotlight by the ice bucket
challenge, ALS had made an immense impact on my life. I was in seventh grade when my parents
told me that my grandmother had been diagnosed with ALS. ALS is a rapidly progressive,
unfailingly fatal neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling
voluntary muscles, with a median survival of 3 years. Over the course of just a few months I
witnessed this disease transform my energetic, independent grandmother into a shell of her former
self. ALS leads to immobility, respiratory and muscular failure, which limits a person's ability to
experience life. When the early stages and symptoms of ALS begin to develop, most people ... Show
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This means that their mind is completely healthy, yet their body decays and malfunctions around
them. Their mind is a slave to the diseased body. The last time I saw my grandma she was lying in
her bed surrounded by family and various machines. Her eyes were closed because all her voluntary
muscles were paralyzed. The machines were keeping her heart pumping and the medications
relieved the discomfort. She appeared to be in a coma, but my mom assured me she was conscious
and just couldn't show it. We all said our goodbyes, and I imagined her real self, inside the shell of
what was left of her body. She was trapped and I knew that she was ready to

Case Study: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Interesting ALS Facts:
There are two kinds: familial and sporadic
Ages 40–70 are most affected
Military vets are twice as likely to be diagnosed
Average life expectancy is 2–5 years
There is no cure
In 2014 the famous ALS Bucket challenge raised approximately $115 million for research
Famous people diagnosed with ALS: Lou Gherig, Steven Hawking, football great Steve Gleason,
former VP Henry Wallace, Seasame Street creator Jon Stone
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis A progressive, fatal disease that affects those from all walks of life
In 1869 French neurologist Jean–Martin Charcot first discovered ALS based on presenting
symptoms. He was aware of symptoms that accompanied upper motor neuron damage which was:
muscle weakness, stiffness an altered muscle reflexes. He was also aware of symptoms associated
with lower motor neuron damage which included: muscle atrophy, twitching and decreased muscle
reflexes. Who also observed a decrease in muscles associated with mastication. After studying these
symptoms, the "Father of Neurology" termed the disease "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis". ... Show
He was known as the "iron man" of baseball, playing in the most consecutive games than any other
player. It was that fateful day he realized "something wasn't right" and he removed himself from the
game. Lou
Gherig was diagnosed with ALS and succumbed to the disease in 1941. ALS is still most known as
"Lou Gherigs

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Case Study
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) is a group of neurological diseases that mainly
involve the nerve cells responsible for coordinating voluntary movements in body muscles
(Salameh, Brown Jr, and Berry 26). Voluntary muscles are responsible for movements like talking,
walking, and chewing. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is progressive in nature, and with no
known cure, a victim can expect to live between 2 and 5 years after diagnosis (Salameh et al. 27).
The ALS Association is the sole organization in the United States leading the fight to discover an
effective cure for Lou Gehrig's disease from all angles – through research, public policy programs,
and care. The ALS Association is at the forefront of global research ... Show more content on
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Therefore, internal links on the website should provide information on the history of the association,
regional offices, leadership, partner organizations, and the services offered. However, the most
significant thing in a web campaign towards building support for a social course is the authenticity
of information and the truthfulness of the leaders. This calls on the ALS Association to provide
internal links to information on the total amount of money donated on a regular basis, as well as
how the funds have been utilized (Oppenheimer and Olivola 106). Similarly, external links detailing
previous successes will motivate individuals to donate further.
Concerning the domain name for the ALS Association, it should be .ngo. The rationale is that the
organization is not engaged in business activities, but rather a nonprofit entity devoted to finding a
remedy for Lou Gehrig's disease. Therefore, they should change their existing domain. The rationale
is that .org is used by many organization and cannot identify the main course of the ALS Association
(Rogers, Sharp, and Preece 53). Even though a relatively new domain, .ngo will better identify the
ALS

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Case Study Essay
Case Study: A thirty six year old male has developed severe muscle weakness throughout the body.
The condition began fifteen months ago with a left foot drop and within a year, he described
difficulty with speech and swallowing, muscle twitching and cramping, and muscular atrophy
throughout the upper and lower limbs. Within the last two months, his breathing has become more
difficult, and there has been a noticeable difference in his voice. Prior to the fifteen months, he
presented little to no symptoms. The patient, a medical doctor, has a wife and two young children.
What began as seemingly innocent muscle weakness and cramping has lead to this patient's fatal
diagnosis. He is one of 2.5 per 100,000 people worldwide who have been ... Show more content on
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Typically, the muscle weakness will affect a limb, and nasal or slurred speech will soon develop. If
the patient is limb onset ALS, the symptoms will first occur in the arms and legs. They may have
difficulty with dexterous tasks such as writing or opening a door. If the lower limbs are affected,
they may notice trouble walking and experience tripping or stumbling. Dropped foot, as
demonstrated in the above case study, can also develop from muscle weakness and can cause the
individual to drag his or her foot. Limb onset ALS is more typical than all other types, occurring in
about 75% of diagnosed individuals. The other 25% may present symptoms described as bulbar
onset ALS. These patients may first notice difficulty with proper speech and swallowing. Patients
will often lose their voice and have difficulty forming words, caused by a loss of tongue mobility. In
rare cases, patients might demonstrate respiratory onset ALS where the intercostal muscles are
compromised first. Regardless of which occur first, affected individuals will generally experience
most of the symptoms as the disease progresses. Specifically, symptoms that include difficulty
swallowing, moving, forming words, tight muscles, spasticity, and/or exaggerated reflexes occur
when the upper motor neurons have been damaged. When lower motor neurons are damaged,
symptoms such as muscle weakness, atrophy, cramping, and twitching will occur. In some cases, a
few of the muscle neurons that

The Effects Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ( Als )
I. Introduction
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a late onset neurological disorder characterized by motor
neuron degeneration in brain stem, spinal cord and primary motor cortex. There is no single gene
strictly associated with all ALS cases, the disease is thought to be caused by the interaction of many
genetic factors as well as environmental influences. Most of ALS patients have no family history of
this disease, familiar form accounts for only 5 to 10% and seems to be dominant in most cases. The
dominance and high heritability of familiar ALS (FALS) led to identification of several high–risk
alleles of few genes (among those, SOD1, FUS, TARDEP, C9ORF72 are the most frequent)
There are 3 main neuropathological findings associated with ALS. First is degeneration of the
corticospinal tract that connects axons from primary motor cortex to the motor neurons and
extensive degeneration of lower motor neurons. This is connected to the second characteristics,
which is loss of Bertz cells that are found in primary motor cortex and connect to the motor neurons.
The third characteristics is hypertrophy of glial cells that either lose their original neuroprotective
abilities or gain neurotoxic effects.
ALS usually starts in one part of a body (either a limb or bulbar region) and then slowly spreads to
the rest of the body by non–cell autonomous or prion–like propagation. A presence of protein
aggregates in the affected neurons was observed, but the nature of these aggregates

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a disease of the nerve
cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. Jean–Marie Charcot was
the first to recognize ALS as a distinct neurological disease with its own unique pathology. In ALS,
nerve cells degenerate and deteriorate, and are unable to transmit messages to muscles. In around
90% of the cases of ALS, the cause remains unknown. Studies have concentrated on the
responsibility of glutamate in motor neuron degeneration. Glutamate is one of several
neurotransmitters in the brain. While there is no known cure for ALS, strides in medicine have
allowed for the development of a wide variety of medications to treat the various ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
The predicament of the patient gradually declines. Once the disease progresses to the stage where
muscles in the chest area stop working, it grows increasing difficult or nearly impossible to breath.
History of ALS
Jean–Marie Charcot was the first to recognize ALS as a distinct neurological disease with its own
unique pathology (Kumar, Aslinia, Yale, and Mazza 2011). Studies conducted from 1865 to 1869 by
Charcot and his colleague Joffroy found that lesions in the interior of the lateral column in the spinal
cord gave rise to chronic progressive paralysis and contractures (no atrophy of muscles), while
lesions of the anterior horn of the spinal cord resulted in paralysis devoid of contractures (with
atrophy of muscles). These discoveries reinforced Charcot's hypothesis, at the time, was that the
motor component of the spinal cord contained a two–part system, and that the location of the lesion
results in a varying clinical presentation. Charcot did not propose the term "amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis" until 1874 when his lectures were accumulated into a compilation of his research entitled
"Oeuvres Completes". In many parts of the world, ALS is still known as Charcot's disease. While
numerous molecular and genetic discoveries have allowed for a greater understanding of this
disease, his innovative descriptions of the associated clinical and

Symptoms And Symptoms Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (...
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou
Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain and spinal cord
nerve cells. The degeneration of these neurons result in their death, which prevents the brain from
initiating voluntary muscle movement. Patients may not experience the same symptoms throughout
the phases, early symptoms include difficulties swallowing, breathing, speaking, and increasing
muscle weakness. Muscle atrophy occurs and paralysis may result in the later stages of the disease.
The cause of ALS is unknown and although there is no cure, current treatment can halt the
progression or possibly reverse it (ALS Association, 2010). Many people do not think twice about
the early signs and symptoms of ALS, as the disorder progresses, the signs and symptoms can mimic
other illnesses. Early signs usually begin in the upper and lower extremities. The patient appears to
be clumsy. As ALS progresses, all voluntary muscle movements will be affected. The patient will
have difficulty speaking, chewing, swallowing, breathing, and holding their head up. The average
person lives 3 to 5 years after diagnosis, death of the motor neurons lead to death of the patient
(Mayo Clinic, 2015). ALS is seen more in men than in women and more in Caucasian's than any
other race. Most patients are diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 75 (CDC, 2014). Case Study
Mrs. Suzanne Mayflower is a 48 year–old

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting both the
upper and lower motor neurons in the cerebral cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. It is the most
common motor neuron disease in the adult population with a prevalence of two to seven cases per
100,000 individuals. Survival rates in persons with ALS show considerable variation. Five–year
survival rates vary from 7% to 40%, whereas 10–year survival rates range from 8% to 16% (cite).
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) presents clinically with upper motor neuron, and lower motor
neuron signs. ALS is characterized by progressive death of UMNs in the motor cortex and
corticospinal tracts, the LMNs in the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord, and ... Show more
There has been recent support for exercising those diagnosed with ALS, but a substantial amount of
the research available on this subject has been performed on mice. This has made it increasingly
difficult to justify these same treatment guidelines on humans. However, these research studies that
have been completed in recent years have shown exercise to be an intervention that can help
improve function, slow disease progression, and lessen caregiver burden. For example, aquatic
therapy has been found to significantly delay spinal motor neuron death in mice with ALS, as well
as preserve astrocyte and oligodendrocyte populations in the spinal cord in a study published in
2009 (cite). In 2003, research demonstrated that a lifetime of vigorous exercise did not promote the
onset and/or progression of motor degeneration in mice, revealing the running group of mice
demonstrated a non–significant 6–day improvement in survival, compared with the sedentary group,
and a 4–day improvement when compared to the control (cite). Lastly, in 2004 a study revealed that
exercise delayed the onset of disease in female but not in male hSOD1 mice. Also, exercise delayed
the total survival time in female high–copy hSOD1 mice. Sedentary female hSOD1 mice showed
more frequently irregular estrous cycles suggesting a higher estrogen exposure

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (lou Gherigs Disease) Essay
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gherig's Disease)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a deadly disease of the nervous system.
Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS at this time affects 25,000 people in the U.S. today. One
in 50,000 people will be affected in any one year. The average age for diagnosis of ALS is between
30 and 70, although there have been cases of teenagers contracting it.The average life span after
diagnosis are three to 10 years, although 20 percent of those affected will outlive their prognosis by
a number of years. ALS affects more men than women. Approximately
60 percent of those affected are male, 40 percent are female.
Little is known about the exact ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The patient cannot eat, breathe or communicate with others. Total life support may be the only thing
keeping them alive. ALS can lead to total paralysis.
Although there is no cure, medications such as siazepam can assist with controlling spasms and
muscle cramps and saliva. Siazepam can also help control muscle twitching. Physical therapy is
important for patients with ALS to maintain flexibility in joints and to prevent contractures, or
fixations of muscles. Diagnosis of ALS is difficult, since there is no clinical or laboratory test to
identify it. Diagnosis is done through careful examination of a patient' s history, neurological testing,
and electromyograms.
Researchers have been studying whether a defective metabolism of glutamate, an amino acid, is
detrimental to the nerve cells in the muscles of
ALS patients. Scientists are trying to determine whether they can prevent the toxic effects of
glutamate. Other scientists are studying Threostat, which may increase the amino acid called
glycine, which might neutralize glutamate found in ALS patients.
ALS and Muscular Dystrophy are commonly confused due to their similar

Personal Narrative: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
My world flipped upside down as the doctor told me I had Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and that it
was progressing fast. The fact that I didn't even know what that long medical word meant scared me
even more. I instantly turned to the window and stared at the busy highway, tears started rushing
down my face like raindrops, unwelcome and unstoppable. I woke up dreading today, my first day
back to the jail I call high school. I had a surprisingly wonderful time over the summer, but now it's
back to waking up early and late nights filling my brain up with subjects I won't even remember
when SAT testing comes. As I was walking into my first period class I noticed I was struggling to
carry my belongings. I ignored it until after school, when JV ... Show more content on
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I started being able to pick up objects that weighed more than seven pounds. My muscles were not
as strong as they were before I got diagnosed, but I believed that I could regain all the frail muscle I
had into strong, beautiful muscles. Tomorrow would be the second day of school for me. I took off
almost three months of school and all my sports were postponed until I started getting better. "Bri,
you are making a spectacular recovery, this is the first case this whole hospital has seen where only
one dose of Riluzole has almost cured you from ALS!" he exclaimed to me. He told me to take it
slow, only pick up items less than five pounds and be careful with cuts or sores getting infected. I
went home that day with a smile on my face and a hop in my step. It was satisfied to know that I
was the first person to have this type of recovery. Even though I still have the diagnosis of ALS, I go
back to doing my normal things. Now I play for my school soccer team and this past season I got
over $2,000 in donations for me and my condition, I donated all the donations I received to the ALS
Association for people that are going through this disease that can't afford the medication

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Lou Gehrig's Disease
The ALS ice bucket challenge spread infectiously across the nation. On social media sites, you are
sure to see videos of people tossing freezing buckets of ice water on themselves in hopes of
spreading awareness of ALS. The cold sensation causes the person to feel a brief second of being
"paralyzed", much like an ALS patient would. Although this challenge has given ALS more
awareness, most people still don't know the specifics of this disease like symptoms, life expectancy,
and generally what it is. Despite the fact ALS is also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, many
notable people are suffering or have died from it. Since we are citizens of one of the most powerful
nations, people need to be informed about this disability in order to find ... Show more content on
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"A–myo–trophic comes from the Greek language 'A' meaning no or negative. 'Myo' refers to
muscle, and "Trophic" means nourishment–'No muscle nourishment'... 'Lateral' identifies the areas
in a person's spinal cord where portions of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are
located." ("What is ALS?"). Literally, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis means no muscle nourishment
in the spine. In this disease, nerve cells in both the brain and spinal cord slowly die over a period of
time. The cells, referred to as motor neurons, control the muscles throughout the body, resulting in
death or paralyzation as they degenerate. At any given time, ALS can strike anyone. It is not
contagious, however, in about 10% of cases, ALS runs in the family making it somewhat hereditary
("What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?"). "The incidence of ALS is two per 100,000 people"
("Facts You Should Know). Most of the time, Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), acts on middle–aged and
older adults, however there have been noted cases of patients much younger. Considering that a
friend or family member can be diagnosed with this horrible disease, everyone should pitch into
ALS charities in hope to find a

Essay on What is Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is short for ALS, and is often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease."
Lou Gehrig was born in New York in June 19, 1903. In April of 1923, Lou Gehrig signed his first
contract with the New York Yankees. He played for the Yankees for 15 years and lead them to 6
World Series between 1927 and 1938. Gehrig was known as a seven–time all–star champion, for his
batting average and was named twice the American League's MVP; He later earned the name of the
Iron Horse (Lou Gehrig Biography). Unfortunately, his career ended, when he was stricken with
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 1939 . On May 2, 1939 he pulled himself away from the Yankees. At
36 years old, Lou retired from baseball. On June 4, 1939, Lou Gehrig ... Show more content on
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There is also evidence that the patient might develop dementia over a time. Dementia is a loss of
brain function, it affects memory, language, thinking and judgment. Also they have a high risk of
pneumonia during a later stage of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Fact Sheet).
Amyotrophic does not affect the ability to see, smell, hear or recognize touch. A person with ALS
have control of eye muscles and bladder control. Lou Gehrig's diseases mostly affects the nervous
system (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Fact Sheet). When the muscles in the diaphragm and chest
wall fail, thats when the patients start to lose the ability to breath without ventilatory support.
Respiratory failure is a big cause of deaths with patients who have ALS; Patients die usually within
3 to 5 years from onset of symptoms (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Fact Sheet). ALS is one of the
most common neuromuscular diseases worldwide (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Fact Sheet).There
are three different types of ALS causes there is, familial, sporadic, and guamanian. Familial is 5–
10% , sporadic is the most common which is 90–95% of all ALS causes and guamanian is rare
variant. Guamanian is very similar to ALS almost the same and it happens because of something
toxic that they are eating which messes with their nervous system (ALS[Lou Gehrig's Disease]). It is
also a disease varied with etiology characterized by rapidly progressive in weakness in the muscles.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis was discovered in 1869 by a French neurologist named Jean–Martin
Charcot. However, the disease did not become known worldwide until 1939 when famous baseball
player, Lou Gehrig was diagnosed. The disease later took his life. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,
also known as ALS, or more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive
neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons
extend from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles distributed
throughout the human body. Degeneration of motor neurons eventually lead to death. Amyotrophic
comes from the Greek language which translate into "No muscle nourishment. ALS can be summed
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There are numerous tests that have to be ran including, electromyography (EMG) and nerve
conduction velocity (NCV), blood and urine studies, thyroid and parathyroid hormone levels, spinal
taps, x–rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), myelogram of cervical spine, muscle and/or nerve
biopsy, and a neurological examination. Even with the results of various tests, there are still 6 other
major diseases that are similar to ALS, but most of which are treatable. They include Primary
Lateral Sclerosis, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular
Dystrophy, and Neurological Disorders. The doctors use the given results from each test and the
information from the many repeated physical examinations to help with their diagnosis. When each
individual "copycat disease" is ruled out, they can diagnose the patient's condition as Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis. Lou Gehrig, David Niven, George Yardley, Eddie Adams, Dennis Day, Henry A.
Wallace, Maxwell Taylor, and Steve Gleason are just some of the many influential people who were
personally diagnosed with

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Essay
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is an insidiously developing, adult–onset, progressive anterior horn
cell degeneration with associated degeneration of descending motor pathways. Despite increasing
clinical and research interest, its cause remains obscure. Although many theories as to its cause have
been proposed, no intervention has yet been shown to modify biologically determined motor system
degeneration.
There is no clear cut neuropathological diagnosis for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Instead,
clinicians must rely on both the topographic distribution of the neuronal loss and the finding of some
characteristic cytological changes. The precise pattern of these changes, however, varies to some ...
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Lower brain stem nuclei are almost always more consistently and extensively involved than the
upper brain–stem nuclei (2). However, changes in the occulomotor nuclei are rarely associated with
clinical signs.
In recent studies, it has been shown that the occulomotor and sacral nuclei have been associated
with patients whose course of illness has been extended over a longer period of time with the help of
respirators and other medical equipment. This finding suggests that these neuronal phenotypes are
vulnerable to the pathophysiologic process but are inexplicably more resistant to it than are lower
cranial and spinal motor neurons (4).
Standard nerve conduction studies and electromyography have long been used in the diagnosis of
ALS. The characteristics of standard nerve conduction studies and standard electromyography
reflect the underlying pathophysiologic process. Features that support a diagnosis of ALS include
reduced numbers and increased amplitude and duration of motor unit action potentials, in addition to
fibrillation's and fasciculations in many muscles not innervated by the same nerve or spinal cord
segment. Fibrillation's, positive sharp waves, and complex repetitive discharges are features of
denervation. As the number of functional motor units in a muscle diminishes in ALS, the mean
motor unit amplitude and motor unit potential area increase. Increased duration and amplitude of
motor unit action potentials reflect

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a disease that damages motor neurons in the brain and
spinal cord. It is a deadly disease that cripples its victims due to breakdown in the body's motor
neurons. Motor neurons are nerve cells that control muscle movement. They are important part of
the body's neuromuscular system. The neuromuscular system allows our bodies to move and is
made up of the brain, many nerves, and muscles. People that are diagnose with ALS disease causes
for the motor neurons in the brain and the spinal cord to shrink and disappear, so that the muscles no
longer receive signals to move eventually causing the muscles to become smaller and weaker.
Slowly the body becomes paralyzed, which means that the muscles no longer function. The average
life expectancy for a person that has ALS after being ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
ALS is not contagious, but research is still unclear on the causes of the disease.
Discussion
Early signs and symptoms of ALS are very minor and overlooked. They begin as simple things, such
as tripping or dropping things. The person has difficulty walking and doing their normal daily
activities. They experience weakness in their leg, feet or ankles. This disease normally begins in
your hands, feet, or limbs, and spreads to other parts of your body. As the disease develops, the
muscles become gradually weaker. This weakness sooner or later affects chewing, speaking, and
breathing. Some drooling may occur at this point. In its more progressive stages, breathing problems
result often lead to respiratory failure to death. Since the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord
degenerate, the brain is unable to send signals to the muscles of the limbs. At this time, experts do
not know what causes ALS. It can affect anyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or
geographical location. Cases of ALS appear to be inherited in up to 10%, but in cases it appears to
occur randomly. Researchers are investigating

Essay about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
ABSTRACT
At this time, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS) is a very confusing and elusive disorder. While
the clinical presentation and diagnosis of ALS dates back to the early 1900's, with Charcot being the
first to scientifically report and document his findings, there simply has not been definitive evidence
since that time for the etiology for ALS. This fundamental problem has befuddled the most qualified
researchers and its ensuing answer has eluded the most clever experiments for some 80 years.
This paper is being written to address some of the most plausible candidate causes which have come
to the forefront of ALS research in the last few years. This paper will also try to tackle the ... Show
The average age of onset is roughly 60. Even so, much more attention is giving to younger, healthy
individuals who succumb to the disease.
The typical history usually involves early recognition of an onset of clumsiness in the hands and
fingers, with a weakness in the legs soon to follow. There is also bulbar involvement that usually
manifests in problems with speech and swallowing. This bulbar involvement is interesting in that it
may be cytologically distinct from the corticospinal manifestation. The degenerative process itself is
unforgivingly progressive, except for a few permanent plateaus, and for all reasonable assessments,
will yield a fatal outcome. Even so, it should be noted that patients most often do not die from ALS,
but from secondary causes such as infection and pneumonia.
When considering ALS, the relevant question is not what has been proposed as the causative agent,
but what has not been proposed. Over the years, there has been a myriad of theories concerning the
etiology of ALS, some with a valid premise and decent evidence, and others being way off the mark.
Some of the theories that have been advanced include viruses, actions of specific neurotoxins or
heavy metals, failure of DNA repair mechanisms, altered axonal transport, or some type of unusual
autoimmune disease. With a significant volume of scientific literature being devoted to ALS
'progress' each year, it becomes painfully obvious how confusing it is to extract one or two well

Analysis Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Genetics Essay
Analysis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Genetics
Christopher Elliott
Brandman University
Analysis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Genetics
Over the past decade, the medical community's understanding of chronic illnesses has greatly
increased. This increase is the result of improvements in technology and techniques that have
clarified some of the unknown mechanisms associated with disease. For example, innovations in
genetic sequencing have allowed researchers to analyze the genetic variables and abnormalities that
could contribute to an individual's development of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In fact,
over 20 different genes have been identified that increase one's susceptibility of developing ALS.
Therefore, an analysis of a recent research study, which elaborates on the genetics of ALS, is
essential to understanding these types of investigations and how they are significant in modern
medicine. With that being said, the purpose of this paper is to review a recently published
investigation pertaining to ALS genetics by Cady et al. (2014) in JAMA Neurology.
Review
ALS is a devastating disorder that has an incidence rate of 5,000 individuals and a prevalence rate of
30,000 (Abel, Powell, Andersen & Al–Chalabi, 2012). According to Abel et al. (2012), the onset of
ALS is between the ages of 40 and 70 and has no distinct ethnic or racial boundaries. ALS can be
subdivided into two categories: Sporadic and Familial. Individuals with sporadic ALS do not

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis – Muscular Atrophy: An Annotated Bibliography
Abramovitz, Melissa. "Lou Gehrig's Disease" p17–61. Treatment for ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease
has found that Vitamin E and the drug known as Riluzole can help the progression of the disease.
When taking the medication Riluzole it has shown to prolong survival in patients by two to three
months and it has also delayed the use for breathing support. There is a few side effects to taking
Riluzole, such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, and it has also shown that it can do damage to your
liver and kidney's. There is no cure for ALS, but researchers are trying to find out what actually
causes this disease and how they can cure it.
Aebisher, Patrick. "Playing ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
CNN Online.3Dec2004.
This article discusses that there are two ways you can get this disease it is either by Inherited ALS or
Sporadic ALS. In all the articles that were read about this disease very few mentioned how this
disease is contracted. Researchers say that 10 percent of cases of ALS appear to be inherited due to
some form of gene mutation. Sporadic ALS , more than 90 percent of cases of ALS appear to occur
randomly, with no identifiable risk factors. Majority of the articles say they don't know how this
disease comes about and why people get it.
Encyclopedia Britannica 2007. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 13 2007. Muscle disease: Muscle
weakness, Classification of muscle weakness, and lower motor neuron
disease>http://www.brittannica.com/eb/article–58886.
This article seeks to define that diseases of the peripheral nerves can also produce symptoms similar
to the motor neuron disease such as ALS. "Sensory disturbance due to involvement of the nerve
fibres carrying sensory impulses is usually involve." Affected individuals are between ages 50 to 70
years of age and have upper and lower motor neuron weakness. Paralysis progresses rapidly, and
death often occurs with three years of diagnosis.
Encyclopedia Britannica 2007. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 13 2007."Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis"http://www.britannica.com/eb/article–9007301

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also knows at Lou Gehrig's diseases is a motor neuron
disease that affect the motor system specially the anterior motor horn cells,
corticobulbar/corticospinal tracts, and motor cranial nerves. ALS is a fatal and the causes are
unknown. A small percent of the ALS patients are known to have familial amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis. ALS causes severe muscle atrophy since the neuron cell connections to the muscle are
lost. After many studies the scientist were able to find evidence that imply that the skeletal muscle
tissue is the principal target of ALS toxicity. Until today the pathophysiological mechanism of both
familial and sporadic ALS are unknown. After many years of research the scientific community was
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
After many years of studies there is a way to manage the symptoms and to extend the life of the
patients. In 1994, Rilutek was approved and is the only drug used for ALS (Bensimon G, Lacomblez
L. Meninger V 1994). This drugs benefits still really low when the progression of ALS is really fast,
Rilutek only slow the progression of the disease by ten percent. Unfortunately, the benefit is not the
same for every patient and many can not tolerated or see any benefits from taking the medication.
Also, the high prices for Rilutek make it even more difficult for patient without any insurance or
monetary availability to pay for the drug. The care for an ALS patient required a lot of education,
counseling and symptoms

Essay about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a motor neuron type disease. The disease was first discovered in
1869 by French neurologist Jean–Martin Charcot. Though we have known of this disease and its
capabilities for well over a century; there is still information that is unclear. This past decade has
been successful for research, giving us new information and optimism for years ahead. New hope is
arriving in thoughts that stem cell research and gene therapy will advance our knowledge for a
possible cure. ALS is also known as, Lou Gehrig's disease. Lou Gehrig was a talented and popular
professional baseball player. Before being diagnosed with ALS in 1939, Lou Gehrig was known for
his abilities at the plate and his longevity. Because of his ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
The SOD1 enzyme is a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from damage caused by free
radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that are produced by cells during normal
metabolism. If these free radicals are not neutralized, they can accumulate and cause random
damage to the DNA and proteins within cells. Even with the knowledge of this gene mutation;
scientists have been unable to connect this happening to motor neuron deterioration. Some research
has shown the gene mutation to affect the motor skills of some animals. Glutamate is a
neurotransmitter in the brain. A reoccurring theme with glutamate is that people with ALS have
higher levels of it in their serum and spinal fluid than that of a healthy person. When neurons are
exposed to high amounts of glutamate over an extended period of time they tend to die off.
Researchers are trying to come up with an explanation for high levels of unnecessary glutamate in a
person. In addition, they are trying to piece together how this would lead to the development of
ALS. Autoimmune responses and the environment are possible causes as well. An autoimmune
response is where the body's immune system attacks regular cells. Some theories state that
antibodies may attack motor neurons, which would have an effect on the communication of signals
between the brain and muscles. The possibility of the environment causing ALS deals with
questions on modern day diets or the amount of pollution that the

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Paper
Mental health is a fragile thing and terminal conditions such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(ALS) greatly impact it. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that attacks a person's physical
function. It progressively saps a person's strength and leads to the failure of organs. Unfortunately,
this disease is not fully understood and is difficult to diagnose (Rosenfeld & Strong, 2015, pp. 318–
319). Knowing fully well that this disease is a death sentence, ALS patients generally have a
negative outlook and this significantly influences their mental health. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
can be diagnosed mainly through the medical perspective and has been extensively researched to
determine the components and controversies it contains. Determining whether or not an individual
has ALS falls under the medical perspective in psychology. Being able to determine a cause of
abnormal symptoms through physical examinations and tests describes the medical perspective. ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Brief COPE was one method utilized to gather data on the coping strategies employed by
patients. Another research method used by professionals is the General Health Questionnaire. This
provided an effective way to subjectively evaluate a patient's mental health by obtaining first–hand
information directly from the patient (Albertini, Desnuelle, Montel, & Spitz, 2012, p. 600). The
Kaplan–Meier model also determined mental health status by using gathered data from other tests to
determine the effectiveness of the coping strategies on the patient's overall mental health. To get an
overall understanding of how the patient is doing based on their mental health, coping strategies,
and disease progress, the Bravais–Pearson correlation test is performed (Albertini et al., 2012, p.
600). Accumulating the results from the previously stated tests has to an accurate insight on the
mental health of ALS

Motor Neuron Disease Maladie de Charcot Lou Gehrig's Disease
What is the Disease?
ALS is an extremely deadly disease affecting the nerve cells that control the victim's voluntary
muscles. These nerves shrink and eventually die, leaving the muscles without stimulation. As these
muscles go without stimulation, they too eventually shrink and die. The victim progressively
weakens to the point of complete paralysis of all voluntary muscles and some involuntary muscles,
such as breathing and swallowing, and soon after this point, death is inevitable.
'A' means "Without" 'Myo' means "Muscle" 'Trophic' means
"Nourishment" 'Lateral' refers to uneven ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Another third find a weakness in their legs and may trip because of a mild foot drop. The remaining
one–third notice slurring in their speech or difficulty swallowing. Because all of these symptoms
happen naturally, it is generally not characterized as ALS until the symptom progressively worsens.
This happens as the affected area's muscle cells deteriorate, resulting in muscle tenseness.
Frequently one side of the body is affected first and it then gradually passes to the other side.
Muscles in the eyes, anus and bladder are generally left unaffected.
Diagnoses
As there is no known way to prevent this disease, there is also no specific clinical test to identify
ALS. It generally involves a physical examination, perusing through the patient's medical history,
and neurological testing. To test muscle activity specialists often use an EMG, or electromyogram,
and will often use CT scans, MRIs, and thorough blood examination. There is also a recently
developed SOD1 scan, the gene now thought to be the cause for ALS, especially familial ALS. Only
20%, however, of patients with familial ALS show positive on the SOD1 scan.
Progress of ALS
Until

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive
neurological disorder that destroy nerve cells causing death of motor neuron cells in the brain and
spinal cord controlling voluntary muscle movements. It is considered a rare disease as only two out
of 100,000 in a general population can develop it and there are approximately 20,000 to 30,000
cases in the United States (Miller et al 2004). It has also been shown that the disease affect men
more than it does women with a ratio of three to two (Kiernan et al 2011).
For most people early signs of ALS begins as local atrophy in one part of the body such as a foot,
hand, or arm. Usually the weakening starts at the lower motor neurons that are responsible for
carrying messages from the spinal cord to the muscles (Miller et al 2004). Some common early
symptoms when the disease initially affect the lower motor neurons includes foot slapping or
difficulty opening jars ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the research done by Deng et al 1993, they concluded that the loss of function was responsible by
measuring the enzymatic activity of SOD1 mutants and found it to be on average which is less than
half of wild–type SOD1. Since the original findings of linking SOD1 to ALS there now more than a
hundred mutations that have been found on SOD1, most these mutations being missense mutations
that affect the stability and folding of the enzyme (Beckman et al 2001). The aim of this research
paper is to review recent researches and understand the role of oxidative stress that is associated
with SOD1 mutations that can possibly lead to

Symptoms And Treatment Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Essay
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS or sometimes called Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a
progressive neurological disease affecting the nerves that control voluntary muscle movement. It is
the most common type of motor neuron disease. The body isn't able to operate as it normally does
due to the muscles weakening overtime. As the disease progresses, it starts to damage nerves of
other vital areas of the body. When the body isn't able to breath the way it should causing respiratory
failure and other things start to go wrong, the body has no choice, but to shut down and die. (ALS
Association)
Lou Gehrig's disease came into public awareness from a famous New York Yankees baseball player
who was forced to retire after developing the disease and died two years later. It was originally
discovered in 1869 by a French neurologist named Jean–Martin Charcot. He was the first man to be
able to connect motor neurons in the spinal cord to the ALS disease. (Medical News Today)
The name Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is derived from Greek origin. Amyotrophic broken down
with A meaning no, myo referring to muscles, and trophic meaning nourishment. The three roots
equal the meaning of "no muscle nourishment". When muscles lose their nourishment, they are not
able to stay strong and can withhold their shape. Lateral being the spinal cord and its position to the
body and sclerosis is defined as abnormal hardening of body tissue. When body tissue is hardened, it
is not able to have new

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Case Study
3
ALS – The Fight for Life
One may wonder how ALS works through the body. The meaning is defined within the name
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Amyotrophic means that the muscles become small and weak
causing them to break down. Lateral occurs where the nerves nourish the muscles, these nerves are
located on both sides of the spinal cord.
Sclerosis means that the hardened or scarred tissue develops in place of the healthy nerves within
the affected part of the spinal cord. Additionally, the nerves, or motor neurons, that control the
muscle movement are divided into two categories: Upper motor neurons and lower motor neurons.
The upper motor neurons send messages to the spinal cord from the brain. The lower motor neurons
send messages to the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Another risk of death for the nerve cells is mishandled proteins in the nerve cells (Clinic, 2014).
While there is no cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a medicine has been determined to aid in
slowing down the process. According to the ALS Hope Foundation, a medicine called Riluzole
(Rilutek) is believed to slow down progression of the disease by decreasing release glutamate levels
and damage to motor neurons. Based on the symptoms there are specific treatments to help work
through the problem at hand. For
Example, if someone with ALS began to have speech problems, they can see a special speech
therapists. There is ongoing effort to find a cure for ALS. Currently there are several clinical trials
and extensive research being conducted to discover a cure
(Foundation, 2012). The clinical trial with Riluzole has shown extend survival by several months for
those patients with difficulty swallowing. Riluzole also extends the amount of time for an individual
before they reach the ventilation stage. Riluzole cannot reverse any damage already done to the
motor neurons. The downside of the medicine is the
5
ALS – The Fight for

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative autoimmune disease. This means that
the neurons ( nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord), particularly the ones that control voluntary
muscles (motor neurons), degenerate and die. Naturally, motor neurons in the brain send signals to
the motor neurons in the spinal cord, which in turn, sends signals to the muscles. However, the
degeneration and death of these neurons (upper and lower motor neurons) doesn't allow the body to
transmit signals to permit the movement of muscles. This eventually causes the weakening of the
muscles, and the brain's loss of controlling voluntary muscle movement. By this, people lose their
ability to speak, walk, and breathe.
Generally, family history and genetics play a big role in the cause of ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
People worldwide, with different ethnicity backgrounds and ages can be affected by ALS.
Nonetheless, ALS is more common among males, people aged between 40 and 70 years old, and
Caucasians (93% of the database). ALS symptoms vary from patient to patient, but usually the
person will have difficulty in walking, speech, and swallowing. The patient will also feel weakness
and clumsiness of the hands, legs, feet, and ankle. The disease will start affecting one muscle and
will then spread to other muscles. Since reversing the effect of ALS is not possible, treatments focus
on decelerating symptoms, avoiding complications, and making the patient feel more at ease.
Riluzole (Rilutek) is a drug that seems to slow the development of ALS in some patients. This drug
works by reducing glutamate, which, as previously mentioned, appears to be higher in ALS patients.
Moreover, medications can be given to relieve symptoms, such as muscle cramping, fatigue, pain,
depression, and sleep problems. Patients can also be offered breathing, speech, occupational,
physical, nutritional, and psychological

Als : Short For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
ALS Jose Ramirez 2nd hour ALS is short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It's sometimes called
Lou Gehrig's disease. It's a very deadly disease that has taken MANY people's lives. It's a slow and
painful process. It usually starts from the bottom and works its way up north till you eventually die.
It attacks your nerve cells which it eventually makes you immobile. Motor neurons located in the
brain are the cells that are attacked by this deadly disease. ALS causes weakness with a wide range
of disabilities eventually, all muscles under voluntary control are affected, and individuals lose their
strength and the ability to move their arms, legs, and body. When muscles in the diaphragm and
chest wall fail, people lose the ability to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
You're pretty much going to die. Let's be real nobody could handle that. Knowing that a disease will
make you immobile and will eventually kill you. It will deprive you of everything you loved doing.
Any outdoor activities you enjoyed, any sports. Most likely people with ALS will be in a wheelchair
because they won't be able to walk. The patients will not go out and party or go on a vacation. Its
pretty stressful to be having the disease. Although it is rare to get. Doctors don 't know what causes
ALS. In about 1 case out of 10, it runs in families. This means that 9 times out of 10, a person with
ALS doesn 't have a family member with the disease. ALS has symptoms that may give you a heads
up of what's going to happen. For example weakness in a foot or leg. It doesn't always start there
either. It can begin anywhere like in your hand or even your face. The muscles get smaller and
weaker eventually because of the attacked motor neurons. Some symptoms could be repertory
problems and trouble swallowing food. But ALS doesn't cause numbness or loss of feeling. ALS is
usually found in older people. Usually white males and non–Hispanics. So I consider myself lucky
haha jkjk. Its found in 1/12 people. 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. Medicines can control
symptoms, such as muscle cramping and difficulty swallowing, and other drugs can slow the
development of the disease.

Aisha Fain
St. Mary's University
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive and
degenerative neurological disorder that affects the cells in both the brain and the spinal chord and
has affected nearly twelve to twenty thousand people, according to Moglia and Margolis (2017).
This disease may have a great affect on the musculoskeletal system, the nervous system, as well as
the respiratory system. Initially, there is no actual known cause to this disease; however, researchers
may have an idea of what may play a possible role including genes. In addition, there are a number
of symptoms that may also be experienced in patients with Lou Gehrig's disease including "slurred
speech, weakening grip, clumsiness/unsteadiness, and weakened limbs," (Moglia & ... Show more
(2015). End–of–life management in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The Lancet.
Neurology, 14(4), 435–442. doi:10.1016/S1474–4422(14)70221–2
Jakobsson Larsson, B., Nordin, K., & Nygren, I. (2016). Coping with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
from diagnosis and during disease progression. Journal Of The Neurological Sciences, 361235–242.
doi:10.1016/j.jns.2015.12.042
Moglia, P. P., & Margolis, D. D. (2017). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Magill'S Medical Guide
(Online Edition)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2013). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis fact
sheet. National Institutes of Health. van Groenestijn, A. C., Schröder, C. D., Visser–Meily, J. A.,
Reenen, E. K., Veldink, J. H., & van den Berg, L. H. (2015). Cognitive behavioural therapy and
quality of life in psychologically distressed patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their
caregivers: Results of a prematurely stopped randomized controlled trial. Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis & Frontotemporal Degeneration, 16(5–6), 309–315.

"Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth"said Lou Gehrig on Lou Gehrig
Appreciation Day(Greenberger 81). While thousands of people chanted, "We want Gehrig, We want
Gehrig". This day was very emotional for Lou, fans, and players because they would not see the
great play ever again.
There are quite a few symptoms for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS. one of the
first signs a patient will have is muscle twitches. Then the patient will have slurred speech and will
start to trip or fall randomly. They will also have muscle cramps and foot drop, which means having
trouble lifting the foot. Then they will drop things frequently, and have difficulty swallowing. Lastly
they will have fatigue in arms or legs (ALS Assn) ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The first season he did not play much at all, manly sitting the bench.For the next couple seasons,
Lou was a great baseball player and played 2,130 games consecutively, even with a broken finger
(Greenberger 5). During the 1939 season Lou's batting average plummeted, and he could not field
that well at all. Soon Lou started to trip or fall randomly and was in pain.Lou benched himself in the
1939 season (79). Finally, Lou was taken to the doctor and was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis, also known as ALS. This was heartbreaking for Lou because he could not play what he
loved, baseball. Soon all he could do was watch the games and bring up the players line up to the
umpire (Greenberger

Amvotronhic Lateral Sclerosis
What is It? Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal age–
dependent degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord, brain system, and cortex.39–12 A
Plaracteristic of the disease is the loss of all voluntary motor function, with the exception of Ocular
muscles and sphincter.8 The average age of onset is 55–60 years and the male to female ratio is 1.3
to 1.10 Following onset it is fatal after 3 to 5 years on average's once respiratory functions are
paralyzed." It affects all races' I and is the most common of the human motor neuron diseases3'7'
occurring in roughly one in every 2000 people." There are two types of ALS, sporadic and familial',
with approximately 10% being ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Genetic factors not only affect the familial cases, but they also are likely to play a role in some of 4
the sporadic cases.9 Among the familial cases about 200/s 3'12 contain causative genetic lesions in
copper–zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD 1). 3'7 ALS could be an oxidative neurotoxicity brought on
by this mutation in the SOD 1 protein:1'11 A leading hypothesis of the development of ALS is
/glutamate excitotoxicity.1°'12 Concepts of excitotoxicity may help explain the selective neuronal
death that occurs.10 Excitatory neurotransmitters, such as glutamate, can damage postsynaptic cells
with excess concentrations.I° Glutamate levels are elevated in serum, spinal fluid, and brain tissue
of ALS patients.11'12 It is also hypothesized that deficiency of nerve growth factor may cause
ALS.II Neurotrophic growth factors might rescue the cells that are destroyed in ALS.I "12
Additional cause for ALS may be derivative of industrial pollutants and occupational exposure to
chemicals associated with welding and soldering." Symptoms ALS is characterized by a
combination of both upper and lower motor neuron ✓ symptoms9'I2 that lead to respiratory
insufficiency within a few years.1° Lower motor neuron symptoms include weakness, muscle
wasting, hyporefexia, muscle cramps, and fasciculations.9'11 Spasticity, hyperreflexia, Hoffmann
sign, extensor plantar responses, hyperactive jerk and gag reflex,

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease, which means there's an
increasing loss of neuron structure and function as the disease progresses. This is when there's an
unusual hardening of body tissue due to a lack of muscle nourishment and poor nerve cell
transmission. ALS typically affects the ages of 40–70 years old, and for some unknown reason,
military veterans are almost double the chance of developing ALS in comparison to the general
public. The first large–scale effort to track ALS and its outcomes is the ALS CARE Database, where
it stated that, of the people in the database, 60% were men, and 93% were Caucasian (Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet, 2016). There are 2 main types of ALS; sporadic and ... Show
Under normal conditions, satellite cells are inactive, but become activated when there's a serious
injury, and when muscles lose their nerve supply. Satellite cells repair muscle fibres, but when they
become old, they disrupt signals and skeletal muscle cannot be prepared and regenerated effectively.
This results in muscle fibre degeneration, an increase in connective tissue between single muscle
cells, and weakens the single muscle cell and neuromuscular junction connection (Tsitkanou, Della
Gatta, Russell,

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Degenerative Disease
Als which is an acronym for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has gained a lot of fame due to the
Fundraiser "Als Ice Bucket Challenge". Many celebrities, famous athletes and everyday people have
participated in it and in doing so they have raised a substantial amount of money for research.
Although, many people are still left wondering what exactly Als even is. Then, there are the people
who know all too well about Als and those people are the sports world. Along with Als he's
Malicious relative Cte is not far behind getting the attention of many people as well. Cte stands for
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy it is a degenerative disease found in the brain. They are both
Gruesome Diseases that have many people wondering "how can i protect myself". ... Show more
It is a progressive incurable fatal neurological disease. In the body we have these things called
motor neurons which control muscle movement. When the process of Als starts these motor neurons
die 1 after the other. As of today there is no known explanation on how people get Als. Although
there is some sort of explanation on why young athletes get the disease. It has to do with toxic
proteins that are found in the brain, these toxins start to form after suffering consecutive blows to the
head. They start to form in the brain and then they slowly leak down the spinal cord which triggers
Als. It all starts with the first symptoms of feeling muscle weakness, trouble chewing and slurred
speech. In any random body part the feeling of it starts to go away. Which then spreads to the rest of
the body parts and then ultimately leaving paralysed. It leaves the person unable to do anything, but
there are some things you still use such as vision, hearing and the strangest of them all the brain. The
average range of those diagnosed is from 40 to 70 years of age. The life expectancy after contracting
the disease is from 2–5 years but in some cases the person has lived up to 10

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is commonly referred to as ALS. This disease is also known to many
as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a disease characterized by the slow death of certain nerve cells in
the brain and spine. As described by research done through the Mayo Clinic, nerve cells called
motor neurons control the muscles that allow you to move muscles of your body. ALS effects these
particular neurons and produce serious neurological effects that can start as muscle weakness that
eventually leads to disability and then to death. For some people diagnosed with ALS they may find
it difficult to walk, talk, eat food, swallow, and even breathe. These problems can, and will lead to
injury, illness, and eventually death. For most people who suffer with ALS, death will occur within
three to five years after the first symptoms begin; some people may live for many years beyond that.
One of the early symptoms of ALS is footdrop, where lifting the anterior part of the foot or toes
becomes problematic. Other early symptoms include muscle twitching and weakness in the arms or
the legs. Also, other early symptoms include hand weakness and noticeable clumsiness. This may
include things like having difficulty buttoning shirts or tying shoes. Trouble swallowing and slurred
speech can also be an early sign of ALS. Doctors don't know what actually causes ALS. What is
known in about 1 case out of 10 is that it is hereditary. This means that 9 times out of 10, someone
with ALS does not

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Or Lou Gehrig Disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig disease . Amyotrophic lateral is the
neurodegenerative disease which the nerve cell (neurons) destroy and lose an ability to control
muscles movement , so Patient can't do the normal activities walking ,moving until now there is no
cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , but there are some Therapies that may help the patient to
mitigate the pain . Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is the deadly disease . It begins when Motor
neurons (nerve cell) in the brain system send the signal via the spinal cord to the voluntary muscles
like arms , legs, face so the nerve cell degenerates than the muscles lose ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Patient muscles in this point gradually become weaker. Moreover, the disease – if it is truly ALS –
generally spreads from one part of the body to another
(almost always in parts adjacent to each other) so that eventually the problem can no ignored (1).
longer be
The Patient cannot do the normal activities like speaking .At the beginning, he can talk , but in a
hard way ,slow then gradually he loses an ability to talk They use devices to help them to contact
with others. Other early symptoms vary but can include tripping dropping things , uncontrollable
periods of laughing or crying (2).
1
Khowalh ahmed alsayil.
Definition essay .
Oct 2016

Causes Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Imagine living in a hopeless body with a perfectly working brain. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS) is one of the worst diseases to develop. Seeing your own body slowly die is a painful thing to
go through and not being able to do anything about it is even worse. Chronic traumatic
encephalopathy or rather known as CTE's is a disease found in people who are repeatedly hit in the
head. Head trauma and concussions are mainly the reason of these diseases and being in sports
highers the risk of getting a concussion and head trauma. Rules are important in playing sports so
the players won't get seriously injured. Rules in sports have to be made so that players will not get
hit in the head as much to cause a concussion, and rules not only need to ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Athletes, on average, are getting ALS and CTE's at a younger age than non athletes. The average age
athletes are being diagnosed with these diseases is thirty compared to regular people which is fifty
five. There is not an exact explanation on why athletes get these diseases at a younger age, but
researchers believe that during sports players get hit on the head during practices or games and lead
to concussions. Sometimes athletes don't rest after getting a concussion and that leads to serious
brain damage in the future. Athletes are also not getting the right protection they need in sports to
keep them safe. Rules are sometimes not enforced during games and players can seriously get
injured.The difference between head trauma and concussions is that head trauma is damage in the
brain and a concussion is when the brain touches the skull and causes a shock. A neurological
examination can be given to check vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength, and

ALS ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and is also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease.
After this disease is contracted, it weakens skeletal muscles and the body is eventually paralyzed. In
some cases, ALS affects the limbs first, causing difficulty to move. Due to being a progressive
condition, patients will suffer from many different symptoms as time goes by. After being
diagnosed, only about fifty percent of patients live for at least two more years (Facts You Should
Know 2010). Moreover, about twenty percent live five years after being diagnosed and only ten
percent of people can expect to live for over ten years after the diagnosis (NINDS 2013). This being
said, ALS is typically very rare. Approximately two out of one hundred ... Show more content on
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ALS is inherited in five to ten percent of cases, while other cases just seem to appear randomly
(Learn About ALS 2014). Some believe that the nerve cells that control movement just gradually die
off. It is also said by doctors and scientists that this condition is the result of a gene mutation.
Others, on the other hand, believe there is a chemical imbalance where there are higher than normal
levels of glutamate, which is a chemical messenger in the brain around the nerve cells in their spinal
fluid (Learn About ALS 2012). Earlier in class, we established that glutamate is a salt or ester of
glutamic acid, and too much glutamate is known to be toxic to some nerve cells. Some cases could
be a result of a disorganized immune response where the immune system begins attacking normal
cells, leading to the death of nerve cells. When a body's own cells begin attacking its normal cells,
it's almost guaranteed that the body is at risk for shutting down. There could also be some sort of
protein mishandling; mishandled proteins with the nerve cells may lead to gradual accumulation of
abnormal forms of these proteins in the cells, eventually causing nerve cell death. Some scientists
believe that they have found genetic links related to acquiring this disease, but not legitimate cure
has been settled on or established (Learn About ALS

The Impact Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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