AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a disease of the motor neurons,
those nerve cells reaching from the brain to the spinal cord (upper
motor neurons) and the spinal cord to the peripheral nerves (lower
motor neurons) that control muscle movement. In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, for unknown
reasons, these neurons die, leading to a progressive loss of the
ability to move virtually any of the muscles in the body. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
affects "voluntary" muscles, those controlled by conscious thought,
such as the arm, leg, and trunk muscles. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, in and of itself, does
not affect sensation, thought processes, the heart muscle, or the
"smooth" muscle of the digestive system, bladder, and other internal
organs. Most people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis retain function of their eye muscles as
well. However, various forms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis may be associated with a loss of
intellectual function (dementia) or sensory symptoms.
"Amyotrophic" refers to the loss of muscle bulk, a cardinal sign of
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. "Lateral" indicates one of the regions of the spinal cord
affected, and "sclerosis" describes the hardened tissue that
develops in place of healthy nerves. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis affects approximately
30,000 people in the United States, with about 5,000 new cases each
year. It usually begins between the ages of 40 and 70, although
younger onset is possible. Men are slightly more likely to develop
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis than women.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis progresses rapidly in most cases. It is fatal within three years
for 50% of all people affected, and within five years for 80%. Ten
percent of people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis live beyond eight years. |
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