Amiotrofična lateralna skleroza

**Amiotrofična lateralna skleroza** (ALS) ili **[[Lou Gehrig]]ova bolest** pripada grupi neuroloških bolesti, koja zahvaća gornje i donje motorne neurone. Jedna je od najčešćih bolesti motorike, a može se javiti pojedinačno ili kao nasljedna obiteljska bolest (10% svih slučajeva ALS-a). Za 20% nasljeđenih ALS-a dokazana je mutacija gena za citosol, bakar/cink superoksid dismutazu (SOD 1). Do danas je identificirano gotovo 50 SOD 1 mutacija kod osoba s obiteljskim ALS-om. Oboliti može svatko, no ALS najčešće pogađa sredovječne osobe.

Čak 20 000 ljudi u SAD boluje od ALS-a, prema podacima Nacionalnog instituta za neurološke poremećaje i moždani udar, a svake godine dijagnosticira se 5 000 novih slučajeva.

U početku ljudi mogu primijetiti slabost u mišićima, trzanje ili grčenje, a potom bolest progresivno onesposobljava hod, govor, gutanje i na kraju disanje. Mnogi provedu posljednje dane života u potpunosti paralizirani, dok im mozak i dalje funkcionira.

Klinička slika karakterizirana je progresivnim gubitkom mišićne mase i snage, fascikulacijama, spasticitetom, hiperrefleksijom i ekstenzornim plantarnim odgovorom (pozitivan znak Babinski refleksa), kao i razvojem dizartrije i disfagije.

Bolest ima brzi progresivni tijek, a jedini preporučeni lijek od strane FDA je riluzol. Iako tretman riluzolom može produljiti život pacijenta, njegovi učinci su skromni.

## Reference

## Vanjske veze
* Les Turner ALS Foundation
* Misao for a Cause  A t-shirt charity created by Misao Apparel, to help benefit those diagnosed with ALS.
* Extra Hands for ALS
* ALS Association
* Stephen Hawking's Website 
* Clinical Trial of Neurodex for Pseudobulbar Affect in People with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 
* Lou Gehrig's Website 
* ALS-Project - Free communication software for people suffering from ALS
* ALS Therapy Development Foundation
* PatientsLikeMe - a free online tool for ALS patients to track and share progress
* Duke ALS Clinic The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has recognized the Duke ALS Clinic as one of its distinguished ALS Research and Clinical Centers.
* Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins, a leader in ALS Research
* ALS Support Group ALSforums is an international online support group for individuals affected by ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).
* ALS-TDF forums are maintained by the ALS Therapy Development Foundation and focuses on answering scientific questions pertaining to ALS
* BrainTalk communities  was one of the largest ALS/MND forums in the world but following a 2-month hardware failure is currently rebuilding its community.
* BUILD UK  is for people affected by ALS/MND in the UK, but also has overseas members
* PatientsLikeMe is a telesocial medicine site which allows ALS/MND patients to record their symptoms and share information about treatments
* The ALS Advocacy Community  is the ALS Association's online community offering. Members can partake in blogs, discussions, social network and many other features.
* The Patrick O'Brien Foundation A non-profit dedicated to promoting awareness of ALS, established in honor of Patrick Sean O'Brien - an artist diagnosed with ALS at the uncommonly early age of 30, who is chronicling his experience of the disease for a feature film.
* A Ride for 3 Reasons  One man's solo ride across America on a bicycle to raise awareness and money for ALS research. Includes his daily weblog during the ride and profiles of families and individuals living with ALS.