ALS: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
ALS was first discovered in France, in 1869 by a French neurologist by the name of Jean- Martin Charcot. It didn’t get national attention until Yankee Hall of Famer, Lou Gehrig, contracted this disease, shortening his baseball career. Today ALS is sometimes referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Surprisingly, much is still unknown about this fatal neuromuscular condition and there still isn’t a cure. Current research is concentrating on understanding the mechanisms of disease progression. Some advances have been made, but much still needs to be discovered.
Mechanism of Action
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) estimates that Twenty thousand Americans currently have ALS, with another five thousand diagnosed yearly. ALS is a rapidly destructive and fa...