Als: features and treatment
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurological disease that affects the nervous system responsible for movement. This disease is also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease, named after the famous American baseball player who suffered from this disease.
Als affects the functioning of motor neurons, which transmit signals from the brain and spinal cord to muscles throughout the body. As a result, neurons begin to die, leading to progressive muscle loss and weakness. Typically, the muscles of the arms, legs and head are affected first, but over time the disease spreads to other parts of the body.
Symptoms of Als include muscle weakness, spasms, muscular dystrophy, loss of muscle control, and problems swallowing and breathing. There is currently no cure for Als, but effective treatment can slow the progression of the disease and improve patients' quality of life.
Some ALSA patients may undergo drug therapy to help slow the progressive deterioration of the condition. Medicines such as riluzole and edaravone may increase survival and improve nervous system function. In addition, physical therapy, speech therapy, and other forms of rehabilitation can help patients cope with symptoms and retain some skills.
Although Als still does not have a cure, new research continues to explore possibilities for treatment and improving the lives of patients. Much attention is paid to research into genetic and environmental factors that may cause the disease. We hope that in the future more effective treatment will be found for Als and other diseases of the nervous system.
ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a progressive disease of the peripheral nervous system that causes gradual weakening and paralysis of the muscles on one side of the body. This disease affects the motor nerves in the spinal cord and can cause significant loss of function in the patient. In this article we will look at what ABS is, the causes of its occurrence, symptoms and treatment methods, as well as the prospects for the development of this area of medicine.
What is Als?
Als or ABS is a progressive disease of the peripheral nervous system. It is caused by a buildup of the protein tau in the outer lining (myelin) of motor neurons in the spinal cord. This disruption of myelination causes the transmission of nerve impulses from the spinal cord to the muscles to slow down or completely stop.
The causes of ABS are not known, but there is evidence that heredity also plays a role in the development of the disease. In many cases, the disease is transmitted from father to daughter (or mother to son) and from parents to their sons.
Symptoms of ABS can vary from patient to patient and depend on which muscles are affected and how severely they are affected. Common symptoms may include muscle weakness and numbness, difficulty walking, difficulty speaking, trouble swallowing, difficulty breathing and blurred vision. Some patients may also feel stiff in one part of their body or feel unusually tired.
Treatment of ABS includes drug and surgical therapy. To improve symptoms, medications may be used to block or reduce the activity of the tau protein or block its interaction with the myelin of nerve cells. Surgical exploration may also be useful in cases where drug therapy has been ineffective or has failed to stop the progression of the disease. However, in general, the treatment of ABS is complex and should only be carried out under the supervision of a specialist in the field of medical neurophysiology.
The prospects for the development of treatment methods for ABS are the subject of active research. A number of teams are currently working to explore new pharmaceutical and genetic therapy options to treat this disease, and these methods could yield significant advances in the near future. It is also important to continue searching for the cause of ABS and developing measures to prevent and reduce the risk of the disease in families with a hereditary predisposition.
Although ABS is an incurable disease, early recognition of symptoms and access to appropriate treatment can significantly improve patients' quality of life and speed up the process of symptom reduction. If you or a loved one is at risk for ABS, contact a medical neurophysiology specialist to discuss diagnostic and treatment options. All stakeholders should be aware of the importance of taking steps to improve health and reduce the risk of developing ABS.