Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
2
Introduction

• Andy Cenkush
• My topic is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
• ALS

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What is ALS?

• A fatal neuromuscular disease.
• Progressive muscle weakness.
• Results in paralysis.

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ALS Defined

• Discovered in 1869.
• Jean-Martin Charcot.
• French neurologist.
• Commonly known as Lou Gehrigs Disease in United
  States.
• Also known as Motor Neurone Disease in England.
• French recognize ALS as Maladie de Charcot.

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Prevelance

• 30,000 U.S. currently diagnosed.
• 5,000 new cases per year.
• Affects each gender, but more men.
• Commonly diagnosed ages 40-70.

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Symptoms

• Tripping, stumbling, loss of muscle control.
• Difficulty swallowing, breathing.
• Upper neuron damage includes
• Spasticity, fasciculations, clouns.
• Lower neuron damage includes
• Atrophy, dysathria, sialorrhea.

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Causes

• 10 heredity.
• Neurotransmitter, glutamate clogs synapse
  preventing transmission.

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Treatment

• Rilutek, slows progression.
• Physical therapy.
• Supplements to relieve symptoms.

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Prognosis

• 50 death rate within 18 months.
• 20 life expectancy of 5 years.
• 10 longer than 10 years.
• Cause of death related to suffocation or cardiac
  arrhythmias due to lack of oxygen.