Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease and is a disease that affects the central nervous center and the parts of it that control the voluntary muscle systems of the body. ALS is a disease that ultimately leads to paralysis and then death. This disease is similar to other diseases that affect the neurons, such as multiple sclerosis and is in the motor neuron disease group.
Overview of Motor Neurons
People who have been diagnosed with ALS might find that they need to understand more about motor neuron diseases and how these neurons work in controlling movement in the body. This helps understand how the disease affects movement and ultimately what can be done to help treat these diseases.
In order for movement to occur in the body, neurons located in the brain send neurons located in the spinal cord a message. These messages are then sent out to the various nerves using the muscles that are going to carry out the specific movement.
Diseases that damage these neurons, like MS and ALS, make movement difficult and eventually impossible. Some diseases cause only the upper or lower motor neurons (brain or spinal cord) to be affected; however, ALS affects both the upper and lower neurons.
Neurons and ALS
When ALS attacks the neurons, they lose the ability to relay messages to the muscles. The muscles become weak without the messages to engage them in movement and ultimately atrophy sets in and the muscles literally waste away. The final step in the dreadful chain is paralysis.
The way in which this weakness and paralysis occurs is different for every person who has ALS. Some people will have the disease affect their arms first while others will see their legs affected first. If the lower part of the body is affected, walking and standing may be the first signs of ALS. Fortunately, the bladder and bowels are not typically affected and the person with ALS does not lose control of their functions.
When the disease starts in or reaches the upper body, everyday tasks like eating and dressing become difficult due to the arms being weaker. When the upper neurons are damaged, eating and swallowing may become more difficult and the need for assistance and health care become evident much quicker. Breathing can also be affected due to the muscle in the chest becoming weak. Ultimately, this can lead to long term hospitalization and death. The average life span for a person with ALS is approximately five years after diagnosis. This is simply not a disease that has many an optimistic outcome.
What Causes ALS
Unfortunately, researchers do not have a definitive answer for what causes Lou Gehrig’s disease. Some instances of the disease are hereditary and account for about 10%; however, that doesn’t answer the question of how it got in the family genes. Researchers have found that the SOD1 gene is mutated in some but not all cases that are known to be hereditary.
Unlike many other diseases in which researchers can pinpoint causes, ALS researchers have had more success in determining what doesn’t cause the disease. Some of the factors that have been ruled out include:
- Smoking
- Trauma
- Alcohol
- Physical activity
This is not much help to people who want to avoid risk factors but it does help those who have been exposed to smoke or who drink to not have to worry about ALS, although they may have other health concerns to worry about.
Symptoms
The symptoms of ALS are similar to those of other diseases that affect the motor neurons and include:
- Weakness in the legs as identified by problems walking or standing
- Frequent falls or tripping
- Weakness of the tongue as seen in speech problems or difficulty chewing
- Muscle cramps or twitches
- Stiff muscles that are sore and don’t get better over time.
- Depression
There may be other symptoms that are associated with the disease, particularly anything unusual with the muscles in the upper or lower body.
Medical Treatment
Unfortunately, there is not a cure for ALS and the medical treatment that is available is more for comfort that to slow or stop the disease. There have been some advances made and a new medication, riluzole, slows the motor neuron damage and adds a few more months to the life span, not the cure that is needed, but a step in the right direction.
Other medications may be prescribed to ease muscle spasms, relieve pain and or help with anxiety. Therapy, such as speech therapy and physical therapy may be prescribed to keep the muscles active for as long as possible.
ALS is a devastating motor neuron disease that while similar in nature to multiple sclerosis has a much quicker progression and fatal outcome. There are no known causes or cures for the disease at the present time.