What does Usain Bolt, Ethel Kennedy, Justin Bieber and the Cookie Monster all have in common? They are just a few of the thousands of people that have participated in the ice bucket challenge: an Internet sensation that has been used to promote awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2014. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurological disease that causes muscle weakness and gradually impacts on the functioning of the body, leading to eventual death. It is also referred to as motor neuron disease or Lou Gehrigs disease, named after the famous baseball player who had the condition. The disease was first discovered in 1869 by the French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, but it was the impact on Gehrigs career in 1939 that truly brought ALS into public awareness. According to the ALS Association, almost two deaths per hundred thousand population annually are due to ALS. In the US, about 5,600 people are diagnosed with the condition every year, with an estimated 30,000 living with ALS at any one moment. Fast facts on ALS Here are some key points about ALS. More detail and supporting information is in the main article. ALS attacks nerve cells found in the brain and spinal cord. The average life expectancy of ALS patients after diagnosis is between 2-5 years. Experts are currently unsure what causes ALS. Common symptoms of ALS include weakness in the limbs and difficulties with speech and breathing. Muscle weakness occurs in 60% of ALS patients. ALS is usually diagnosed based on presenting symptoms while ruling out other illnesses. There is currently no cure for ALS. Treatment focuses on the alleviation of symptoms. As ALS causes a range of physical, social and psychological symptoms, multidisciplinary care teams are important. As well as physical treatment, it is important for ALS patients to receive social and psychological support. As of 25 August 2014, the ice bucket challenge has raised $79.7 million dollars for the ALS Association.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 04:16:25 +0000
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