Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease is one of the most tragic diseases in the neurology community. Throughout years, the disease has gained international fame due to the lives of famous people such as Pierre Deny, a popular French actor, and Stephen Hawking, a renowned scientist.
It is these famous people whose lives gave insight to the world about a condition that slowly takes away muscle control while still keeping the brain fully aware. In this article, I am going to give a brief overview about the disease including causes and treatments.
What Is ALS?
The ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and is a disease of the nerves which affects the nerve cells found in the spinal cord and brain. These particular nerve cells are called motor neurons, whose function is to control the voluntary movements performed by the muscles like talking, moving, swallowing, and even breathing. The gradual degeneration of the motor neurons occurs in the form of dying. This way, the signals transmitted by the brain to the muscles fail to reach there and thus cause their death.
Why Is ALS Called Lou Gehrig's Disease?
ALS gained much popularity in the US because of the discovery that famous baseball player Lou Gehrig had this condition. After Gehrig was discovered to be suffering from ALS, he died shortly afterwards, which gave this disease great fame. Many people call ALS "Lou Gehrig's disease."
Celebrities and Public Figures Linked to ALS
Pierre Deny
French actor Pierre Deny was believed to be suffering from ALS, thereby giving much attention to the disease in Europe. Stories related to celebrities tend to shed light on the struggles that patients and their loved ones have to endure.
Stephen Hawking
One of the best-known individuals suffering from ALS is the theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking. The former was diagnosed with this illness at the age of 21 and managed to live for over five decades with a rare type of motor neuron disease.
Hawking's condition made him one of the best cosmologists and physicists studying black holes. This was achieved by utilizing a special computer-generated device through which he could communicate. The lives of celebrities who suffered from ALS were used in various public awareness campaigns. Their efforts brought much money and scientific research into ALS.
Other Notable People With ALS
Lou Gehrig - Baseball legend
Roberta Flack - Grammy-winning singer
Aaron Lazar - Broadway actor
Eric Stevens - Former NFL player
David Niven - Academy Award-winning actor
What Causes ALS?
The precise cause of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis remains unknown, although scientists suspect that the disease can be caused by a combination of:
Genetic abnormalities
Environmental exposures
Protein misfolding
Malfunctioning immune system
Nerve cell damage due to oxidative stress
Is ALS Genetic? Common Symptoms of ALS
Only about 5 to 10 percent of ALS is genetic in nature, termed Familial ALS. The rest of the ALS cases fall into the sporadic category, implying that they are not hereditary but occur randomly. It is characterized by slow development of symptoms that keep getting worse.
Early Symptoms
Muscle twitching in arms, legs, shoulders, or tongue
Weakness in hands or legs
Slurred speech
Difficulty swallowing
Frequent tripping or falling
Muscle cramps
Advanced Symptoms
Severe muscle weakness
Paralysis
Difficulty speaking
Difficulty breathing
Weight loss
Inability to perform daily activities
Does ALS Affect the Brain?
The primary function of ALS is to damage motor neurons. In addition, other symptoms that may manifest include cognitive and behavioral disorders. Some patients may have frontotemporal dementia, characterized by personality disturbances, judgment, and problems with speech. Nonetheless, many individuals with ALS still maintain cognitive functioning.
How Is ALS Diagnosed?
There is no test that will conclusively indicate ALS. It may take many months to make an accurate diagnosis since its symptoms are similar to many other neurological disorders. ALS is usually diagnosed by:
Neurological examinations
Electromyography (EMG)
MRI scans
Blood and urine tests
Muscle and nerve testing
Elimination of other conditions
Is There a Cure for ALS?
There is no cure for ALS at present. However, treatment can be used to alleviate symptoms, slow the rate of progression of the disease, and ensure a certain degree of improvement in the patient’s quality of life. This disease is very complex and heartbreaking, and researchers across the world struggle to find more efficient ways to help ALS patients cope with their condition.
Although no cure has been discovered so far, there is much hope that further advances in medical science will allow scientists to alter the prospects for future ALS patients and patients who already suffer from this condition. The work of famous people such as Pierre Deny and Stephen Hawking drew attention to this problem.