Lou_Gherig's_Disease

Karina Estudillo ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects millions of people around the world. Throughout the years, researchers and scientists have been developing new methods to treat the fatal disease. They have figured out new ways to slow the progression of Lou Gehrig’s with the use of transplants and other surgical procedures. This new discovery has created hope for people suffering with Lou Gehrig’s. The use of stem cell transplants is a great step forward in treating Lou Gehrig patients. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS for short, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that causes the deterioration of specific nerve cells (Miriam Falco). In other words, ALS causes certain nerves to become worse in function. Eventually, the brain loses the ability to control specific functions of the body, which includes the nerves. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 90 to 95 percent of all ALS cases occurs apparently at random with no clearly associated risk factors (“ALS Fact Sheet”). This shows that most ALS cases are rarely genetically inherited. It also shows that ALS patients don’t have a family history of it. The symptoms of ALS can vary amongst each person affected. Early symptoms include tripping, dropping things, and abnormal fatigue of the arms and legs (“ALS Association”). Excessive tripping or fatigue indicates that the disease is slowly progressing and worsening. In most cases, the hands and legs are affected first by the disease. As the illness progresses, patients lose their ability to walk, talk, and breathe (Miriam Falcon). Once the disease reaches this stage, it can become extremely dangerous. The patient can die within a couple of years if they do not take care of themselves properly. ALS is a rare disease yet it can affect thousands of people. Based on U.S. population studies, a little over 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year (“ALS Association”). Compared to other diseases, ALS is not as common and many people are not affected by it. Even though it’s not common worldwide, it is common compared to other neurodegenerative disease of its kind. It is estimated that as many as 30,000 Americans have the disease at any given time (“ALS Association”). This shows that not many people are diagnosed with ALS. Unlike cancer or diabetes, ALS is uncommon worldwide. Anyone can become diagnosed with ALS. People of all races and ethnic backgrounds are affected (“National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke”). Researchers still haven’t found any risk factors that are common in ALS. Ethnicity and race doesn’t cause ALS, so anyone can be affected by it. Most people who develop ALS are between the ages of 40 and 70, with an average age of 55 at the time of diagnosis (“ALS Association”). ALS is common amongst men and women who are growing older. Yet, it can still be diagnosed in people who are in their early twenties and thirties. In the first stem cell transplant in the U.S., stem cells are being transplanted into a person with advanced ALS. Doctors injected stem cells from an 8-week old fetal tissue into the spine of a man in his early 60s (Miriam Falco). This is the first clinical trial being done with ALS patients. Researchers are hoping that the injection of the cells in the spinal cord is safe. This first patient in the clinical trial received several injections of stem cells into the lumbar region of the spinal cord, the area that controls the leg function, because most ALS patients first lose muscle function in their legs (Miriam Falco). The people who are conducting this research are hoping that this transplant will cause the disease to slow in progression. This will allow more time for the patient as well as the researchers to figure out new procedures that will help with ALS. Over the years, certain transplants of cells have been controversial. The controversy doesn’t come from the stem cells being used for the ALS transplant. The actual controversy comes from embryonic stem cells that must be harvested from human embryos (“Stem Cell Controversy”). In this type of transplant, the cells must be taken out of an aborted embryo. This has caused much debate and has led to limited research in embryonic transplants. The opposition to use human embryonic stem cell research is often based on philosophical, moral, or religious objections (“Stem Cell Controversy”). Since embryonic stem cells are from aborted embryos many people find that using them for research is morally wrong. Even though scientists say that the use of embryonic stem cells can further develop research, many are opposed and have a lot of objections against it. With the use of stem cell research, ALS patients are provided with more chances in fighting the disease. It also helps researchers to figure out if the treatment will work or not. This insight will also be the basis for future research in stem cell transplants. Lou Gehrig’s disease is a progressive disease, but with this research, it may slow the progression. Further research may bring hope, and possibly a cure for ALS.