Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) - Causes and Symptoms

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) - Causes and Symptoms

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Diseases AZ

ALS is a progressive neurological disorder that is incurable, degenerative. For reasons that are not understood, the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord that control the movement of the smooth muscles (voluntary muscles) gradually deteriorated. As a result, muscles waste away, leading to paralysis and death, usually within two to five years.

In the United States, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis , or ALS, a disease often called Lou Gehrig after the famous baseball player who struggled with the illness and death in 1941.

The only nerve cells affected are nerve lower motor neurons , which control things like the movement of your limbs, swallowing, and even to control some aspect of breathing. But the senses and thought processes remain normal. Complaints of pain rarely occur at any stage of the disease.

The disease is relatively rare: Approximately 5,000 new cases diagnosed in the US each year. It is almost always attack after age 40, and it affects more men than women.

What causes ALS?
Although the cause of ALS is unknown, heredity plays a role in the 5% to 10% of cases. Familial ALS cases (ie, ALS is inherited genetically from parents) believed to be caused by a defective gene that prevents the body to produce normal amounts of an enzyme called superoxide dismutase . This enzyme helps neutralize free radicals, highly reactive oxygen molecules, which are produced during metabolism and can damage body tissues. The researchers speculate that defects in the protective enzymes can also occur in ALS that are not inherited, and environmental toxins may be a factor.

Some evidence suggests that the disease can be triggered by exposure to heavy metals, animal hides, or fertilizer, although this is not proven. Additionally, viral infections and severe physical trauma may be a factor as well. Another theory ALS is a phenomenon called excitotoxicity , in which the nerve cells that control the movement stimulated by excessive neurotransmitter called glutamate to a point where the nerve cells eventually die.

What are symptoms of ALS?
Early signs and symptoms of ALS include:

• Trouble walking, frequent stumbling or difficulty performing normal daily activities
• Weakness in your legs, feet or ankles
• Hand weakness or clumsiness of movement
• Speaking raved does not match the thinking or difficulty swallowing
• Muscle cramps and twitching in the arm, shoulder and tongue
• Difficulty holding the head or maintain good posture

This disease often starts out of your hands, feet or limbs, and then spread to other parts of your body. Over the course of the disease, your muscles become increasingly weak. This weakness eventually affects chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing.

However, ALS usually does not affect the bowel or bladder control you, your senses, or your thinking skills. This allows you to remain actively involved with family and friends.

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