Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou G


Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurological disease that attacks the body’s nerve cells. These nerve cells are responsible for controlling the voluntary muscles in the body, such as the arms, legs, and face..


Symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Degeneration occurs in both the upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in these neurons being unable to send messages to the muscles. This causes the muscles to weaken and waste away, experiencing fine twitches known as fasciculations.


Eventually, the brain will no longer be able to start and control the body’s voluntary movements. Control of the eye muscles, bladder, and bowel functions are not harmed as ALS does not affect people’s ability to see or go to the washroom.


Studies found that patients with ALS suffer from depression or impaired cognitive functions, such as decision-making and memory. This disease can happen randomly, or be inherited. About 90 to 95% of ALS cases occurred randomly with no clear risk factors associated, leaving the remaining 5 to 10% of cases to be inherited by a family gene.


Treatments for ALS Treatments for ALS include the first drug treatment for ALS called riluzole, released in 1995. This helps to reduce damage of the motor neurons by decreasing the release of glutamate.


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