INTRODUCTION:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was originally defined as a pure motor neuron disease by Jean-Martin Charcot in 1869 but is now recognized as a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder, with disease heterogeneity at the clinical, genetic, and neuropathological level.
We walk, we run, and we do exercises like aerobics, physical exercise, or yoga. All these are voluntary movements. What is a voluntary moment? The movements that we asked our brain to do What if we have no control over our voluntary movements? What if you want to raise your hand but your hand won’t be able to conduct your command? All these things make people worry that there is a problem somewhere. The issue is with the nerves when they aren’t able to conduct the impulse to the organ to perform the function that our brain is asked to do. A healthy body can control voluntary muscular movements in the arms, legs, and face, for example, but amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) targets these movements. Motor neurons are the targeted cells. These cells deteriorate and die as ALS worsens. The brain is no longer able to govern voluntary movement because the muscles stop communicating with the brain. The muscles deteriorate over time.
EARLY SYMPTOMS:
The early symptoms help us recognize the particular disease and work on it as much as we can. The early symptoms are unusual limb fatigue, muscle cramps, and twitches. Sometimes it affects the speech as well. People with ALS can face problems in decision-making and memory, which leads to dementia.
SYMPTOMS WHEN THE DISEASE IS SEVERE:
Early indications and symptoms might not be very visible. Over time, they become increasingly apparent, although each person experiences this transition differently. Muscle weakness is the primary symptom of ALS.
Typical signs include:
- Cramping and twitching in the arms, shoulders, or tongue difficulty maintaining good posture and holding the head up uncontrollable outbursts of laughing or crying, a condition known as “emotional lability” difficulty performing daily activities, including walking increased “clumsiness”
- Alterations in the mind or memory
- In the later stages, there may be slurred speech, trouble projecting one’s voice, soreness, exhaustion, issues with saliva and mucus, and difficulties breathing and swallowing.
CAUSES:
The main cause of ALS is unclear and unknown, but few of them are inherited from generation to generation, which shows that genocide has a huge role in it.
Genetics:
The mutation in the SOD1 gene, which is key to the functioning of motor neurons and other cells, This mutation can be the reason for the development of ALS in humans from generation to generation. People with ALS might consider genetic testing. If the test identifies a disease-causing variant, family members might also get tested.
Other possible causes of ALS include:
Disorganized immune response: The immune system may assault some bodily cells, possibly harming nerve cells.
Chemical imbalance: Near the motor neurons in the brain, people with ALS frequently have increased amounts of glutamate, a chemical messenger. High levels of glutamate may be harmful to nerve cells.
Protein mishandling: If proteins are not processed properly by nerve cells, the resulting aberrant proteins may accumulate and lead to the death of the nerve cells.
Environmental Factors:
Environmental Factors: Environmental factors can play a huge role in developing this disease because, after hitting some situations, they cause the symptoms of ALS, which shows that the environment plays a significant role in it.
The factors are:
- Electric or mechanical trauma
- Military career
- Really intense exercise
- High levels of agricultural chemical exposure
- Exposure to a lot of different heavy metals
Diagnosis:
There is no single test that fits all in order to detect ALS. The doctor advises several tests to rule out those with similar signs and symptoms:
These tests are:
electromyography, which measures the electrical activity of muscles, and nerve conduction studies, which gauge the efficiency of nerve transmission
Other conditions that might be causing the symptoms, like a spinal cord tumour or a herniated disc in the neck, can be found with an MRI scan.
Other illnesses can be ruled out with the aid of blood, urine, and muscle tests.
ALS-like symptoms can also be caused by conditions like HIV, Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, polio, and the West Nile virus.
Treatment:
Due to degeneration of the nerve, there is no cure for this disease. People with this disease have to survive with it. All the treatment can do is eliminate the symptoms and lower the pain scale. ALS can cause physical, mental, and social trauma. A health care professional will work to eliminate the symptoms and give treatment according to the disease’s toxicity.
Therapies:
People with ALS may find relief from discomfort and increased mobility with physical therapy.
- Low-impact activities that improve cardiovascular health and general wellbeing.
- Wheelchairs and walkers are examples of mobility aids.
- Equipment that makes life easier, like ramps
Occupational therapy:
People who receive occupational therapy can prolong their freedom. Occupational therapists can:
- Assist in selecting assistive technologies and adapted devices that allow a person to maintain their regular routine.
- Teach students how to overcome their hand and arm weaknesses.
Speech therapy:
Since we knew that it also impacts speech, speech therapy does wonders. When speaking becomes difficult due to ALS, speech therapy may be helpful. A speech therapist can instruct a patient in alternative communication strategies and adaptive approaches, such as writing and computer-based communication tools.
CONCLUSION:
Neurons play a huge role in controlling the whole body’s movement, which shows that we have good nerves if we control our everyday activity. If you lost control over voluntary movement, this is alarming. This will come under the umbrella of ALS. The disease in which the nerves are damaged and degenerate There is no cure for this disease; all people have to bear it or survive with all the symptoms. Genetics plays a huge role, which means that if your family has this disease, you need to run and get tested yourself to have a beautiful life.
