A progressive
degenrative disease that attacks
nerve cells in the
brain and
spinal cord. These cells are prevented from receiving
proper nourishment, and begin to
atrophy. As the
motor neurons that control muscle ability in the body
die off, the brain begins to lose control of the muscles, until the
victim is completely
paralyzed. When control for
vital functions is lost, the ALS sufferer dies. Most people still retain full
functionality of their
brain through the full
scope of the disease.
www.alsa.org says the cause of ALS is not completely understood, but I seem to recall a discovery of the gene responsible for the disease in 1994 or 1995, shortly after my uncle died of ALS. ALS cannot be halted or reversed, but its progress can be slowed with the drug Rilutek. Other drugs for ALS are still in clinical trials.