What causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
The cause of ALS is not known, and scientists do not yet know why ALS strikes some people and not others. However, scientific evidence suggests that both genetics and environment play a role in motor neuron degeneration and the development of ALS.
Which deficits found in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are the results of lower motor neuron damage?
ALS is characterized by a progressive degeneration of motor nerve cells in the brain (upper motor neurons) and spinal cord (lower motor neurons). When the motor neurons can no longer send impulses to the muscles, the muscles begin to waste away (atrophy), causing increased muscle weakness.
Which research theories may explain probable causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis quizlet?
The causes of ALS are unknown at present, but researchers are focusing on several possible theories, including gene mutations, overabundance of the neurotransmitter glutamate (which can be toxic to nerve cells), autoimmune response (in which the body’s immune system attacks normal cells) and the gradual accumulation of …
Which is the usual life expectancy of a person diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS )? Quizlet?
Some people with ALS live much longer than the 3 to 5 years usually associated with this condition. Some live 10 years or more. Maintaining an optimistic outlook can help improve quality of life for people with ALS .
Which of the following is a current therapy for Parkinson’s disease quizlet?
The main therapy for Parkinson’s is levodopa. Nerve cells use levodopa to make dopamine to replenish the brain’s dwindling supply.
Is a degenerative disorder involving a defective gene on chromosome 4?
Huntington’s disease is a progressive brain disorder caused by a single defective gene on chromosome 4 — one of the 23 human chromosomes that carry a person’s entire genetic code.
What happens when you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
With ALS, motor neurons in your brain and spinal cord break down and die. When this happens, your brain can’t send messages to your muscles anymore. Because the muscles don’t get any signals, they become very weak. This is called atrophy.
What are the symptoms of ALS and how is it diagnosed?
The signs of ALS — muscle weakness or twitching, slurred speech, or trouble with physical tasks — can also point to other conditions. There’s no single test that can diagnose ALS. It takes a variety of exams, tests, and scans to figure out whether you have ALS or something else.
How does ALS affect the brain?
ALS affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movements such as walking and talking (motor neurons). ALS causes the motor neurons to gradually deteriorate, and then die. Motor neurons extend from the brain to the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body.
What to expect with ALS?
As ALS causes your motor neurons to die, you start to lose control over your muscle movements. At first, you might be less steady on your feet than usual. ALS can make it harder to do anything that requires fine movement, such as picking up a pencil or turning a key in a lock. Your hands may feel weak.
Is ALS genetic or hereditary?
Established risk factors for ALS include: Heredity. Five to 10 percent of the people with ALS inherited it (familial ALS ). In most people with familial ALS , their children have a 50-50 chance of developing the disease.
How does a person contract ALS?
About 25 to 40% of all familial cases are caused by a mutation in a gene called C9orf72. Another 12 to 20% result from mutations in the gene SOD1. Mutations in the genes TARDBP and FUS also can cause familial ALS. The C9orf72, SOD1, TARDBP, and FUS genes all are key to the normal functioning of motor neurons.
Which areas of the body are usually affected first by ALS?
Although the mean survival time with ALS is three to five years, some people live five years, 10 years or even longer. Symptoms can begin in the muscles that control speech and swallowing or in the hands, arms, legs or feet.
How does ALS affect mental health?
Despite the low rates of clinical depression and anxiety, patients with ALS have been shown to be at increased risk of being diagnosed with depression, anxiety and other neurotic or stress-related disorders following diagnosis (21–25), however this may be attributable to the clinicopathological overlap between ALS and …
What are the signs of ALS?
Breathing Issues. After some time,ALS paralyzes the muscles you need to breathe.
What are the symptoms of MND?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This is the classical MND and the most common type. About 8 in 10 people with MND have this type.
What is the current treatment for ALS?
medications to relieve painful muscle cramps,excessive salivation and other symptoms.
What is the best doctor for ALS?
Signs&Symptoms of Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Weakness of the muscles,especially in the arms and legs.