ALS is an extremely deadly disease affecting the nerve cells that control the victim's voluntary muscles. These nerves shrink and eventually die, leaving the muscles without stimulation. As these muscles go without stimulation, they too eventually shrink and die. The victim progressively weakens to the point of complete paralysis of all voluntary muscles and some involuntary muscles, such as breathing and swallowing, and soon after this point, death is inevitable.
'A' means 'Without'
'Myo' means 'Muscle'
'Trophic' means 'Nourishment'
'Lateral'
refers to uneven development of symptoms between right and left sides
'Sclerosis'
refers to 'destruction' of tissue
The History of ALS
A French doctor named Charcot first identified ALS in 1874. It is one of the most devastating diagnoses a person can receive. ALS is said to start between the years of 40 and 70, with the exact average being 45.6 years old.
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