Essay Sample on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Introduction

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is considered to be a progressive neurodegenerative condition that is characterized or identified through the death of the pyramidal neurons that occur in the motor neurons and motor cortex in the central spinal cord and brain stem.

The Pathophysiology

The mechanism that exist in the neurodegeneration of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis tend to be multifactorial, and they usually operate through the interrelated genetic and molecular pathways. In most cases, the neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis occur due to the complex interaction of the generation of the free radicals, glutamate excitotoxicity SOD1 enzymes, cytoplasmic protein aggregate, and the disruption of the axonal transport processes through accumulating the neurofilament intracellular aggregates. The mutation of FUS and TARDBP leads to the formation of the intracellular aggregates that tend to be harmful to the body neurons (Brown, & Al-Chalabi, 2017). Also, the activation of the microglia leads to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines that trigger further toxicity. Ultimately, the motor neuron degeneration happens as a result of activation of the calcium-dependent enzymatic pathways.

Clinical Manifestation

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is manifested by various signs and symptoms that tend to differ among individuals. This signs and symptoms include, difficulties walking, hand weakness, slurred speech, falling and tripping, twisting in the arm, muscle cramps, and having difficulty holding the head upright. The signs and symptoms of the amyotrophic disease usually start in the hands, limbs, or feet and later spread to other body parts. However, as the disease progress, other body nerve cells are destroyed, and the body muscle continues to weaken.

Clinical Prognosis

The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is caused by various factors that include, first, gene mutation. Human genetic mutation can trigger the inherited ALS, which tends to cause almost the same signs and symptoms as the non-inherited ALS. Secondly, chemical imbalance. Individuals with ALS tend to have higher levels of glutamate, which is considered toxic to certain nerve cells. Thirdly, protein mishandling, the mishandled proteins that exist within the nerve cells may result to the gradual accumulation of the abnormal forms of protein in the cells, thus affecting the nerve cells. Fourth, the disorganized body immune response. In some situations, a person's body immune system may begin to attack some of his or her normal body cells, which may result to the death of nerve body nerve cells.

References

Brown, R. H., & Al-Chalabi, A., (2017). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. New England Journal of Medicine, 377(2), 162-172. Retrieved from https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1603471

Dendrou, C. A., Fugger, L., & Friese, M. A. (2015). Immunopathology of multiple sclerosis. Nature Reviews Immunology, 15(9), 545. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Manuel_Friese2/publication/280910740_Immunopathology_of_multiple_sclerosis/links/57cb446708aedb6d6d9a2519.pdf