Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

(Lou Gehrig’s Disease)By:Meg N

Period 1

ALS

• An incurable disease of unknown cause in which progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord leads to atrophy.

• In later stages patients may become completely paralyzed.

• Most common form of motor neuron disease

Background Information and History

• ALS was first discovered in France by a neurology pioneer ALS was first discovered in France by a neurology pioneer named Jean-Martin Charcot in 1869named Jean-Martin Charcot in 1869

• He first named ALS Maladie de Charco.He first named ALS Maladie de Charco.• Now ALS has many different names around the Now ALS has many different names around the

world, such as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, ALS, MND world, such as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, ALS, MND (Motor Neuron Disease), Sclrose latrale amyotrophique (Motor Neuron Disease), Sclrose latrale amyotrophique and Maladie de Lou Gehrig.and Maladie de Lou Gehrig.

• Even though ALS has been identified for over 135 years Even though ALS has been identified for over 135 years the cause is usually unknown.the cause is usually unknown.

• There are two major types of ALS known: familial and sporadicThere are two major types of ALS known: familial and sporadic• About 10% of all cases are familialAbout 10% of all cases are familial• Familial is thought to be caused by genetic factorsFamilial is thought to be caused by genetic factors• About 90% of all cases are sporadicAbout 90% of all cases are sporadic• Sporadic has no known cause.Sporadic has no known cause.

Symptoms• The earliest sign of ALS is

weakness in the arms or legs• There are many symptoms such as

- twitching and cramping of muscles, especially those in the hands and feet

-loss of motor control in the hands and arms -impaired use of the arms and legs -weakness and fatigue -tripping and falling -dropping things -uncontrollable periods of laughing or crying -slurred or thick speech and difficulty in projecting the voice

Tests health care providers would run to diagnose ALS

• Diagnosing ALS is difficult because there is not one test that identifies ALS

• There are tests that rule out other diseases that mimic ALS

• Tests health care providers often run are electrodiagnostic tests including electomyography and nerve conduction velocity, blood and urine studies, spinal tap, x-rays, muscle and/or nerve biopsy, and thorough neurological examination.

How The Disease Affects The Body

• ALS damages the motor neurons and overtime the motor neurons shrink up and disappear.

• Upper motor neurons send messages from the brain to the spinal cord, and lower motor neurons send messages from the spinal cord to the muscles.

• Motor neurons are an important part of the body's neuromuscular system. The neuromuscular system enables our bodies to move and is made up of the brain, many nerves, and muscles.

• Without the motor neurons your muscles don’t receive the message to move.

Cures And Treatments

Treatments

• At the moment there are no known cures to ALS.

• Although, medications to relieve painful muscle cramps, excessive salivation and other symptoms are available.

• Heat or whirlpool therapy to relieve muscle cramping is very soothing.

• Exercise, although recommended in moderation, may help maintain muscle strength and function for a longer period of time and keeps you in shape.

• Physical therapy to maintain mobility and ease the discomfort of muscle stiffness, cramps and fluid retention is a great idea.

• Nutritional counseling to promote

good nutrition and offers of other dietary options when swallowing becomes difficult is helpful.

• Speech therapy and communication training to maintain as many verbal communication skills as possible. Communication training also indicates non-verbal techniques.

• Devices such as splints, corrective braces, grab bars, reach-extenders, etc. to help with daily activities such as dressing, eating, using the toilet and bathing are a good idea to prevent tripping and falling.

• Special equipment such as wheelchairs, electric beds or mattresses to maximize functional independence are very practical.

Current Research for a cure or a better

treatment• Many people are searching

for cures for ALS.• Project ALS has raised

over thirty million dollars.

• Stem cells hold great promise in treating ALS.

• Mice and rats are often used to test treatments and cures.

• Currently, the most reliable laboratory model for ALS drug discovery is a transgenic mouse that develops the disease. The SOD1 mouse, which features the genetic mutation associated with a small number of ALS cases, is a hot commodity. Researchers were forced to wait up to 18 months to receive these mice. The backorder problem severely slowed ALS research.

The age one would usually get ALS and how they would

get it

• The age you would normally get ALS is between 40 and 70 years old with the average of 55

• ALS is 20% more common in men than in women.• About 90% of ALS patients are Caucasian.

• People of all races and ethnic backgrounds are affected. • 90-95% of all cases are of unknown cause.

• 5-10% of all cases are thought to be caused by genes or are inherited.

Cost Of Disease• Drugs are very expensive• 120 pills of Baclofen costs $54.00• A 1 hour massage cost $100.00• A speech therapist costs $300.00 for

2 hours• A wheelchair can cost from $1,000.00

to $3,000.00• A physical therapist is also

very expensive

How A Person’s Life Is Affected By ALS

• ALS makes it very difficult for people who suffer ALS to perform simple tasks such as walking, running, buttoning

a shirt, writing, or turning a key in a lock.• People may also trip and stumble more often than usual.• Somebody who has ALS, in later stages, often has to use

a walker or a wheelchair • One with ALS can’t function very independently so they

need someone to always be with them.

Conclusion Paragraph

• The reason I picked ALS for my report is my grandmother was diagnosed with ALS recently and I would really like to understand what is going on. I found that only 10% of people diagnosed with ALS survive more than 10 years. I found most of my information from the internet. One question I still have is how many people have have been diagnosed in the past 10 years? I think my strengths are creativity, color and getting the point across. I think my weakness is not having enough information.

Diagram #2Mathematics-Oriented

Diagram

Statistics

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

An Estimated Amount Of How Many People Have The Diease

In America

ALSBreast CancerSickle CellSkin Cancer

Interview with my Grandmother, Margaret

T.Q. What causes the disease or physical ailment? How does a person get

this disease?A. There is no identified cause. It is unknown.Q. How is the disease currently treated? Is there a cure or a better way

to fight this disease?A. There is no cure. A few experimental drugs that only relieve pain are

available. Q. How serious is the disease?A. It is always fatal. The disease always either works up from the legs

or down from the mouth.Q. Is there research being done to find a cure or a better way to fight

the disease?A. Yes, the Department of Defense is doing a lot research.Q. Are there any drugs or medications that a person can take to help

them cope with the disease?A. Yes, there are. Most common drug is Baclofen.Q. How well can a person carry on a normal daily activities if they had

the disease?A. Not super well, but can still move around. No sports but non-active

things are okay.

Bibliography• “dictionary.com.”http://dictionary.reference.com/Dec. 4, 2006• “The ALS Society of Canada” http://www.als.ca/ Dec. 4, 2006• “ALS Association” http://www.alsa.org/als/what.cfm?

CFID=3108730&CFTOKEN=86335173 Dec. 3, 2006• “The Robert Packard Center for ALS research”

http://www.alscenter.org/about_als/index.cfm Dec. 12, 2006 • “ALS society of Alberta” http://www.alsab.ca/whatisals.aspx Dec.

11, 2006• Newton, David. Olendorf, Donna. Jeryan,Christine. Boyden, Karen.

Sick: Diseases, Injuries, and Infection, UXL, and imprint of the Gale Group. London, France. 2000

• Health Matters!. Volume 8 Diseases and Disabling Conditions. William M. Kane, Ph.D Book Builders LLC. Danbury, CT. 2002