Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Essay 4
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
James Smith
University of Southern Mississippi
Dr. Jennifer Walker
BSC 370 Genetics, Spring 2010
Imagine being not able to move your muscles freely everyday, and that process has to coordinate between the brain and the spinal cord to tell the muscles to move. However, when this coordination is challenged and can not convey signals, the results are no muscle movement. At first, muscles in the hands, arms, and legs feel weak. The hands and feet twitch. Speaking and eventually breathing become difficult, and paralysis occurs in the final stages, although thinking and other cognitive functions remain intact. Death usually occurs within five years of the onset of symptoms. This rare, progressive disorder is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, after a famous baseball player whose life was cut short by it. What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis? Nowadays, more and more persons are being detected with a condition that is signified as “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis”. In the history, this neurological situation was signified by several as “Lou Gehrig’s disorder” (Hohnsbeen, 2008). Those that suffer from this medical condition endure great complexities. This is essentially because of the fact that the disorder quickly wages war against some nerve cells in the body. These cells are recognized as neurons by medical experts. The neurons that are alluring to the disorder are the ones that are absolutely liable for the control of muscles that are deemed to be voluntary. The muscles in the upper body as well as those in the lower body are influenced. The influenced neurons are situated in the brain as well as the spinal cord and finally die (Hohnsbeen, 2008).
In this direction, one will learn the facts adjacent the neurological state of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. When a person is detected with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the advancement of the disorder may be gradual or it may be rapid. It all
James Smith
University of Southern Mississippi
Dr. Jennifer Walker
BSC 370 Genetics, Spring 2010
Imagine being not able to move your muscles freely everyday, and that process has to coordinate between the brain and the spinal cord to tell the muscles to move. However, when this coordination is challenged and can not convey signals, the results are no muscle movement. At first, muscles in the hands, arms, and legs feel weak. The hands and feet twitch. Speaking and eventually breathing become difficult, and paralysis occurs in the final stages, although thinking and other cognitive functions remain intact. Death usually occurs within five years of the onset of symptoms. This rare, progressive disorder is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, after a famous baseball player whose life was cut short by it. What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis? Nowadays, more and more persons are being detected with a condition that is signified as “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis”. In the history, this neurological situation was signified by several as “Lou Gehrig’s disorder” (Hohnsbeen, 2008). Those that suffer from this medical condition endure great complexities. This is essentially because of the fact that the disorder quickly wages war against some nerve cells in the body. These cells are recognized as neurons by medical experts. The neurons that are alluring to the disorder are the ones that are absolutely liable for the control of muscles that are deemed to be voluntary. The muscles in the upper body as well as those in the lower body are influenced. The influenced neurons are situated in the brain as well as the spinal cord and finally die (Hohnsbeen, 2008).
In this direction, one will learn the facts adjacent the neurological state of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. When a person is detected with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the advancement of the disorder may be gradual or it may be rapid. It all
References: Hohnsbeen, Roger. (2008) . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. New York: Create-space. William, J. (2000). “ALS Disease: Living with Terminal Illness”. New York: Thomas Gale. Wade, Mary Dodson. (2001). ALS-Lou Gehrig’s Disease. London: Enslow Publishers. Mitsumoto, M.D. Hiroshi. (2009). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Guide for Patients and Families. New York: Demos Health. Phillies, Philadelphia. (1995). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. New York: Oxford University Press.