Our final topic of the year is ALS – a disease that when diagnosed with, will be fatal within 3-5 years. There are very few medications for the treatment of this disease, only one has been approved by the FDA in 1995. The cause of this disease is not yet found, but the latest research seems to believe that ALS is linked to abnormal calcium levels in the cell. These abnormal calcium levels in cells are believed to cause misfolding of proteins and stress on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of cells. Because the ER is a site for protein packaging and folding, when the ER is under stress, the mechanisms that are normally used to repair these misfolded proteins begin to malfunction. These malfunctions lead to accumulations of misfolded proteins in the cell and eventual diseases, such as ALS. This disease is a very sad disease. Symptoms of ALS are first muscle spasms, and eventually when so many motor neurons are lost, paralysis. People that develop ALS can take medications to help them feel better, or the one drug that is approved for the treatment of ALS. However, the one drug approved for treatment causes heavy liver damage, and cannot be taken for extended periods of time. This drug does not stop the disease from happening, but it does slow the progression. Once a person is diagnosed with ALS, it seems that they are faced with eventual death. ALS is a fatal disease that moves quickly, killing a person in approximately 3-5 years. Research needs to be done to further understand the mechanisms in which this disease affects the body so that further treatments can be developed as well as an eventual cure.
ALS – A Sad Disease
