Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Paper
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a motor neuron disease, degenerative and fatal in nature, that affects the worldwide population and more than 12,000 people in the United States alone. ALS remains idiopathic in nature, with only a small percentage of familial infection, and research into the causes and the progression of the disease has made little headway in the last 25 years, despite rising scientific interest. This article will provide a brief description of the known pathophysiology, diagnostic assessments, and treatment options currently available, as well as an insight as to what research will need to be completed to properly identify, treat, and possibly cure ALS in the early stages of the disease. Pathophysiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a deadly motor neuron disease that affects the worldwide population; it causes degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons within the body leading to muscle atrophy of the extremities and respiratory muscles, eventually leading to respiratory failure and death. Due to …show more content…
These symptoms are caused by the degeneration and death of upper motor neurons, residing in the brain and responsible for sending messages to lower motor neurons, as well as lower motor neurons, which extend into skeletal muscles and allow for voluntary muscle movement. Classic ALS progresses quickly, leading to the loss of dexterity and gait, as well as difficulty speaking and swallowing occurring later (Huether & McCance, 2012). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with bulbar onset, however, causes death and degeneration of the muscles responsible for swallow and speaking first, causing tongue wasting and labored speech, and progressing into peripheral muscles later (Keirnan, et al.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a motor neuron disease, degenerative and fatal in nature, that affects the worldwide population and more than 12,000 people in the United States alone. ALS remains idiopathic in nature, with only a small percentage of familial infection, and research into the causes and the progression of the disease has made little headway in the last 25 years, despite rising scientific interest. This article will provide a brief description of the known pathophysiology, diagnostic assessments, and treatment options currently available, as well as an insight as to what research will need to be completed to properly identify, treat, and possibly cure ALS in the early stages of the disease. Pathophysiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a deadly motor neuron disease that affects the worldwide population; it causes degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons within the body leading to muscle atrophy of the extremities and respiratory muscles, eventually leading to respiratory failure and death. Due to …show more content…
These symptoms are caused by the degeneration and death of upper motor neurons, residing in the brain and responsible for sending messages to lower motor neurons, as well as lower motor neurons, which extend into skeletal muscles and allow for voluntary muscle movement. Classic ALS progresses quickly, leading to the loss of dexterity and gait, as well as difficulty speaking and swallowing occurring later (Huether & McCance, 2012). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with bulbar onset, however, causes death and degeneration of the muscles responsible for swallow and speaking first, causing tongue wasting and labored speech, and progressing into peripheral muscles later (Keirnan, et al.