What is ALS simple definition?
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What is ALS simple definition?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurological disease that primarily affects the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement (those muscles we choose to move). Voluntary muscles produce movements like chewing, walking, and talking.
What does amyotrophic mean in medical terms?
The word “amyotrophic” comes from Greek roots that mean “without nourishment to muscles” and refers to the loss of signals nerve cells normally send to muscle cells. “Lateral” means “to the side” and refers to the location of the damage in the spinal cord.
What does lateral sclerosis mean in medical terms?
Overview. Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a type of motor neuron disease that causes the nerve cells in the brain that control movement to fail over time. PLS causes weakness in your voluntary muscles, such as those you use to control your legs, arms and tongue.
What are the main causes of ALS?
Established risk factors for ALS include:
- Heredity. Five to 10 percent of the people with ALS inherited it (familial ALS ).
- Age. ALS risk increases with age, and is most common between the ages of 40 and the mid-60s.
- Sex. Before the age of 65, slightly more men than women develop ALS .
- Genetics.
What is the difference between primary lateral sclerosis and ALS?
Both conditions are motor neuron diseases, although degeneration in primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is of only the UMN whereas in ALS it is of both the UMN and LMN. Muscle wasting, Charley Horse cramps, and significant weakness seen in ALS is the result of LMN degeneration.
What causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
ALS is inherited in 5% to 10% of people. For the rest, the cause isn’t known. Researchers continue to study possible causes of ALS . Most theories center on a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors.
Does Covid cause ALS?
The second patient, who had only mild COVID symptoms, reported a significant decline of leg strength and new bulbar weakness without respiratory decline. We use these two examples to alert the medical community that SARS‐CoV‐2 infection can lead to more rapid progression of ALS.
Where does ALS start in the body?
ALS often starts in the hands, feet or limbs, and then spreads to other parts of your body. As the disease advances and nerve cells are destroyed, your muscles get weaker. This eventually affects chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing.
Should you get the Covid vaccine if you have ALS?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and governors must make the vaccine available to people living with ALS and caregivers as soon as possible.
