ALS
Progressive paralysis condition
ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement.
Also called Lou Gehrig's disease after the baseball player it killed in 1941.
ALS typically leads to paralysis and death within a few years of diagnosis.
The 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge raised awareness and research funding for ALS.
Favoring reform and innovation
- terminalAt the endpoint
- incurableCannot be healed
- life expectancyAverage anticipated survival duration
- end-stageFinal, irreversible phase
irreversible · deterioration · advancing · relentless · fatal · mortality · decline · wheelchair
Degenerative motor neuron condition
- motor neuron diseaseDegenerative condition affecting movement-controlling cells
- neurodegenerativeCausing brain cell death
- muscle weaknessReduced contractile capacity
- spasticityPathological muscle tightness
dysarthria · dysphagia · respiratory failure · atrophy · paralysis · muscle cramps · foot drop · speech difficulties
Controlled health research experiments
- stem cellsUndifferentiated cells with regenerative potential
- palliative careRelief-focused medicine for illness
- ventilatorMechanical breathing apparatus
- BiPAPTwo-pressure ventilation device
physical therapy · occupational therapy · speech therapy · hospice · assistive devices · communication devices · FDA approval
Nerves controlling muscle activation
- neurodegenerationProgressive loss of neurons
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
- upper motor neuronCentral nervous system motor cell
- lower motor neuronNerve directly innervating muscle
spinal cord · brainstem · motor cortex · nerve impulse · myelin · astrocytes · microglia
Pertaining to relatives
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- hereditaryPassed through generations
- genetic testingAnalysis for inherited disorders
biomarker · misfolding · inherited · carrier
progressive
Favoring reform and innovation
- terminalAt the endpoint
- incurableCannot be healed
- life expectancyAverage anticipated survival duration
end-stage · irreversible · deterioration · advancing · relentless · fatal · mortality · decline · wheelchair · bedridden
Lou Gehrig's disease
Degenerative motor neuron condition
- motor neuron diseaseDegenerative condition affecting movement-controlling cells
- neurodegenerativeCausing brain cell death
- muscle weaknessReduced contractile capacity
spasticity · dysarthria · dysphagia · respiratory failure · atrophy · paralysis · muscle cramps · foot drop · speech difficulties · tracheostomy
clinical trials
Controlled health research experiments
- stem cellsUndifferentiated cells with regenerative potential
- palliative careRelief-focused medicine for illness
- ventilatorMechanical breathing apparatus
BiPAP · physical therapy · occupational therapy · speech therapy · hospice · assistive devices · communication devices · FDA approval
motor neurons
Nerves controlling muscle activation
- neurodegenerationProgressive loss of neurons
- axonNeuron's signal-sending projection
- upper motor neuronCentral nervous system motor cell
lower motor neuron · spinal cord · brainstem · motor cortex · nerve impulse · myelin · astrocytes · microglia
familial
Pertaining to relatives
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- hereditaryPassed through generations
genetic testing · biomarker · misfolding · inherited · carrier
- Rare Diseasesprogeria, Tay-Sachs, Krabbe disease, PKU, tuberous sclerosis
- Motor Neuron DiseasesLou Gehrig's disease
- Proteinopathiesamyloid, prions, Alzheimer's disease, amyloidosis, Parkinson's disease
- Sclerosismultiple sclerosis, tuberous sclerosis, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis
- diseasescancer, diabetes, tuberculosis, influenza, measles
- ailmentsache, aches, ailment, cold, flu
ALShealth
Condition of body, mind
wellness · able-bodiedness · vitality · robust health · good health
- also known asPhrase introducing alternate names
- but alsoConjunction adding contrast
- see alsoCross-reference indicator
- also ranUnsuccessful contestant
- not only … but alsoAdditive emphasis connector
- not only but also