Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS)
Biology Research Project
Introduction
The reason I wanted to this disease is because a amazing musician suffers from this his name is Jason Becker and is not able to use his arms and legs due to this disease so he can not play guitar anymore
Characteristics of ALS
This disease attacks the nervous system and weakens the muscles and impacts physical function. It has not yet been discovered where it starts or how to cure it.
Symptons of ALS
The symptons of ALS are usually you can not use your arms or legs if it is a serious case of it and also if it gets bad you cannot talk to anybody.
Causes of ALS
Gene mutation is a causes for ALS, also chemical imbalance is another cause for this disease, disorganized immune response is a cause and also protein mishandling
How is it inheritied
5 to 10 percent of ALS is inherited. The chromosome that ALS is on is on 21q and 9p. This disease is recessive and also can be dominant in some cases like if the parent carries a copy of the disease.
Treatment
This disease does not have a cure yet. But there is this medicine that slows down the disease called Rilutek and also there is a clinical trials for this disease
Diagnosed
There is no test that can tell you have ALS but they are symptoms that can tell if you have ALS like difficulty walking, tripping weakness in leg, muscle cramps in slurred speech those are most of the symptoms for ALS
Population Effects
There is only 5 to 10 percent of people that get this disease it affects more people between age 40 and 70 only 20 percent of people live after 5 years but if you have clinical management you can live longer.
What Did I Learn
I learned a whole lot about als like treatments for it and ages you get and how you get it
Resources
Jason Becker ALS Ice Water Challenge for Edward Van Halen, David Lee Roth and John Mayer
John Mayer’s Ice Bucket Challenge
What is A.L.S. or Lou Gehrig's Disease ?