By: Mustafa Jamal
Lou Gehrig was an American baseball
Stephen William Hawking with his wife
Stephen William Hawking was an English theoretical
physicist, cosmologist, and author, was director of research
at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of
Cambridge at the time of his death
Professor Stephen William Hawking
was born on 8th January 1942 in Oxford, England.
he passed away on 14 March 2018.
Stephen diagnosed with ALS shortly after his 21st
birthday, a type of motor neurone disease
which would eventually cost him almost all
neuromuscular control.
Although doctors predicted (incorrectly, as it
turned out) that Hawking would not survive more
than two or three years,(but he lived for 55 years)
he did gradually lose the use of his arms, legs and
voice, until he was almost completely paralysed .
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS
A-Amyotrophic---None-Negative Meaning.
L-Lateral---Meaning of nerves in spinal cord.
S-Sclerosis---Meaning of muscle stiffness
(ALS), also known as motor
neuron disease, is
characterized by the
degeneration of both upper
and lower motor neurons,
which leads to muscle
weakness and eventual
paralysis.
Body affected by this disease
but Mind and memory won’t
be affected
Symptoms
asymmetric symptoms, consisting of cramps, weakness, and muscle atrophy
of the hands (most commonly) or feet
Difficulty walking or doing your normal daily activities
Tripping and falling
difficulty in speech and swallowing
twitching in arms, shoulders and tongue
Difficulty holding your head up or keeping good position
Causes
ALS is inherited in 5-10 % of cases, while the rest have no known cause.
Researchers are studying several possible causes of ALS, including:
● Gene mutation. can lead to inherited ALS, which causes nearly the same symptoms as
the noninherited form.
● Chemical imbalance. People with ALS generally have higher than normal levels of
glutamate, a chemical messenger in the brain, around the nerve cells in their spinal fluid.
Too much glutamate is known to be toxic to some nerve cells.
● Disorganized immune response. Sometimes a person's immune system begins
attacking some of his or her body's own normal cells, which may lead to the death of
nerve cells.
● Protein mishandling. Mishandled proteins within the nerve cells may lead to a gradual
accumulation of abnormal forms of these proteins in the cells, destroying the nerve cells.
Risk factors
● Heredity. Familial ALS, their children have chance 50%
● Age. ALS risk increases with age, and is most common between the
ages of 40 and 60.
● Sex. Before the age of 65, slightly more men than women develop
ALS. This sex difference disappears after age 70.
● smoking Smoking is the only likely environmental risk factor for
ALS. The risk seems to be greatest for women, particularly after
menopause.
Complications
● Breathing problems
● Speaking problems
● Eating problems
● Dementia
Diagnosis
-Electromyogram (EMG)
-(MRI) of the brain and, if no cranial nerve involvement, cervical
spine
-Nerve Response Speed Test(NCV)
-Spinal tap (lumbar puncture).
-Muscle biopsy.
-Blood and urine tests.
Treatment
Treatments can't reverse the damage of ALS, but they can slow the progression of
symptoms
● Supportive care
● Riluzole reducing levels of a chemical messenger in the brain (glutamate) that's
often present in higher levels in people with ALS. Riluzole is taken as a pill and may
cause side effects such as dizziness, gastrointestinal conditions and liver function
changes.
● Edaravone (Radicava) — The FDA approved edaravone in 2017 based on six-month
clinical trial that showed it reduced the decline in daily functioning associated with
ALS.
Physicians can also prescribe medications to help manage symptoms of ALS, including
muscle cramps, stiffness, excess saliva and phlegm, and the pseudobulbar affect
İCE BUCKET CHALLENGE
To raise awareness to ALS disease ,İce bucket challenge is the action that includes
pouring down a bucket of water filled with ice
Since July 29, 2014, The ALS Association has received $115 million in donations!
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrdp201771
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-
20354022
https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/peripheral-nervous-system-and-motor-unit-
disorders/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-als-and-other-motor-neuron-diseases-mnds
http://lougehrigs.tumblr.com/post/22791632429/normal-glutamate-regulation-when-nerve-cells
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Amyotrophic-Lateral-Sclerosis-
ALS-Fact-Sheet
References

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & Gehrig's disease & moror neuron disease