Amyotrohic Lateral Sclerois (ALS)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is an ultimately fatal motor neuron disease. ALS affects motor neurons in the body. ALS affects muscles throughout the body. ALS can lead to full degeneration of motor neurons throughout the body leading to full-body paralysis that can eventually lead to death. 15,000 Americans have ALS. Some symptoms of ALS are a weakness, twitching, paralyzed body parts ( paralyzation starts in the hands and spreads out across the body). Only 10% of people with ALS survive longer than 10 years. ALS has genetic and environmental factors. Only about 5-10% of cases of ALS are based solely on genetics. This case is knowns as “Familial ALS”. One harmful mutation that could cause ALS is the C9ORF72 gene. There is no cure for ALS. There is no suppressant on any medicine that can reverse the symptoms of ALS. However, some drugs can help ALS such as edaravone and riluzole. ​

In the above picture you can see brain degeneration. Here motor neurons have degenerated leading to lack of movement.


Image from neurology.org