What is ALS?

ALS belongs to a group of diseases called motor neuron diseases. It is a disease that
attacks the nerve cells that are used in voluntary muscle actions; actions that we can
control such as those in the arms, face and legs.
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As ALS progresses, motor neuron cells in the body degenerate and die.

These nerve cells are called motor neurons and are found in the brain and spinal
cord. As ALS progresses, these cells degenerate and die, ceasing to send
messages to muscles, which in turn causes them to weaken and waste away.

The brain's ability to control voluntary movement is lost, with all muscles under voluntary
control affected as the disease progresses. As well as control of the arms, face and
legs, ALS can cause people to lose the ability to breathe unsupported, often leading to
respiratory failure.
ALS greatly reduces an individual's life expectancy; most people die within 2-5 years of
diagnosis.
There are, however, many examples of people living for much longer, however. After
ALS diagnosis, around 20% of people will live five years or more, 10% will live for 10
years or more and 5% will live for a further 20 years.
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Causes of ALS

3,4,5

Currently, experts do not know precisely what causes ALS. It can affect anyone,
regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or geographical location. There are two types of
ALS: sporadic (randomly occurring) and familial.
Familial ALS accounts for around 10% of cases and is inherited, with the offspring of a
person with ALS having a 50% chance of developing the condition.In addition to genetic
factors contributing to the heritability of familiar ALS, researchers are investigating
several possible causes of ALS, including:

Disorganized immune response: the immune system may attack some of the

body's cells, potentially killing nerve cells

Chemical imbalance: people with ALS often have higher levels of glutamate, a

chemical messenger in the brain, near the motor neurons. Glutamate in high quantities is
known to be toxic to nerve cells
Mishandling of proteins: if proteins are not processed correctly by nerve cells,
abnormal proteins could potentially accumulate and cause the nerve cells to die.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS),

researchers are also investigating whether environmental factors play a role in the
development of ALS. For example, a study reported that military personnel deployed in
the Gulf region during the 1991 war were more likely to develop ALS than military
personnel deployed elsewhere.

Environmental and lifestyle factors likely play a role in the development of ALS, but no
conclusive evidence is available to support making specific changes to decrease the
risk of the disease. Some possible links have been found between ALS and exposure
to:
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Mechanical or electrical trauma

Military service

High levels of exercise

High levels of agricultural chemicals

High levels of a variety of heavy metals.

Recent developments on ALS causes from MNT news

Scientists discover new way that ALS kills nerve cells
A study that examines an overlooked area of research in ALS, or Lou Gehrig's
disease, reveals a new way in which the devastating and incurable neurological
condition kills nerve cells.
ALS toxic protein study opens new door for drug discovery
A new study provides the first evidence-based description of a type of protein clump
thought to play an important role in ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, by killing the nerve
cells that control movement.
Lou Gehrig's disease: new immune link uncovered
Despite furious research, the exact causes of Lou Gehrig's disease are yet to come to
light. New research published in the journal Science slots a new piece into the puzzle.
ALS may arise from protein build-up in nerve cells
The nerve cells of some people with the serious disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
can accumulate clumps of a protein called SOD1. A mutation in the SOD1 gene is
known to cause the disease, but it has not been clear if the characteristic clumps of the
protein associated with the faulty gene are active drivers or harmless byproducts of the
disease. Now, a new study suggests they are drivers.