Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Methods for ALS

Causes, Symptoms, and

Treatment Methods

The Ice Bucket Challenge, in which celebrities pour ice water over themselves and upload videos,

began as a fundraising campaign for the development of a treatment for ALS.

Its original medical name is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but after Lou Gehrig, the New York Yankees' No. 4 batter, died from the disease, it also came to be called Lou Gehrig's disease in his honor.

Today, we will look at the causes of ALS, the symptoms that may accompany it, and methods for treating those symptoms.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called ALS, refers to a disease in which only muscle cells are gradually destroyed while sensation, intelligence, and consciousness remain intact.

More specifically, the upper motor neurons in the cerebrum and brainstem, and the lower motor neurons in the spinal cord, are damaged, and muscle atrophy in the arms and legs gradually progresses.

If the respiratory muscles become paralyzed as well, the person depends on a ventilator and then dies. The incidence rate is higher in men than in women.

The cause of ALS has not been clearly identified, but as various studies have been conducted, hypotheses about the cause of the disease have continued to emerge.

It is estimated that immune mechanisms, genetics, abnormalities in neurofilament function, and infections interact to cause the condition.

Following the causes of ALS, if we look at the symptoms, various symptoms can appear depending on the body part involved. First, speech impairment or swallowing difficulties may occur.

In addition, respiratory symptoms such as breathing difficulties and sleep disturbances may occur, and arm symptoms can make it difficult to use utensils while reducing the strength of the hands and arms.

Leg symptoms may make walking or running difficult, make it hard to go up and down stairs, and cause muscle atrophy in the feet and legs.

ALS progresses in stages. In the early stage, it becomes difficult to fasten clothing buttons or grasp objects, and gait problems may occur.

In the middle stage, some muscles become paralyzed, a walker or wheelchair may become necessary, and driving may become impossible.

In the late stage, mobility becomes limited, communication without assistance becomes difficult, and respiratory function may be severely impaired.

In the terminal stage, voluntary muscle paralysis progresses and death usually occurs from respiratory complications. Since there is no definitive cure, symptom control and complication management are important.

To manage the symptoms of ALS, medication can be used to slow disease progression, and for swallowing difficulties, nutrition can be provided through a gastrostomy.

In the case of ALS, there is no way to prevent it before the initial symptoms appear, so if these symptoms are suspected, it is best to visit a hospital quickly for diagnosis.

Today, we looked at the causes of ALS along with symptoms by body part, stage-by-stage symptoms, and treatment methods. Please refer to the information above.