Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Symptoms, Treatment & Prognosis

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrigs disease is an adult-onset fatal neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive apoptosis of upper and lower motor neurons in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord. This results in paralysis of bulbar, limb, thoracic and abdominal skeletal muscles, and death within 25 years of diagnosis. In this book, the authors present current research on the symptoms, treatment and prognosis of ALS. Topics include audiological profiles and hearing loss in ALS patients; the role of the lipid transcription factor and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) in ALS; molecular targeted therapy for ALS; physical and communication disabilities in ALS; psychological interventions for ALS patients and their caregivers; and a study of ALS progression and propagation.