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Researchers Identify the Trigger of Key Cellular Change in ALS
When the nervous system is injured, diseased or infected, astrocytes, undergo ‘reactive’ changes in their behavior. Some of these reactive astrocytes become become harmful and damage surrounding motor neurons. Understanding how astrocytes undergo transformation brings closer to potentially being able to control and prevent astrocytes from becoming harmfully reactive. Though, the article states there’s still a long way to go in developing a treatment that could potentially be used across all neurological conditions.
New hope or is it just like rearranging chairs on the Titanic?
Richard
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2 Replies
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Hi Richard, Your definitely doing overtime, with your research into ALS. All the articles are Very Very Appreciated! The last article hit home, as the article stated injury/infection plays a role with ‘astrocytes resulting in miscommunication/dysfunction. At first I was thinking air/traffic pollutants day after day ‘Could have caused ALS, But cronic lower Back ‘Injury for years aggravated by continued harsh work conditions makes more sense! Could have been a combination of factors. As we all know, understanding possible causes helps to develop treatments. Wondering how many other PALS can pinpoint an injury they feel could have contributed to their ALS symptom onset? Again, Richard, Thanks for all your insight!
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Hi James, similarly to you, I too made an attempt to find my ALS root cause.  First, I looked at my family history. No one in my family has had ALS and the people in my family have lived into their late 70s all the way up to over 100 years old. So, my ALS is probably not familial. Then I reviewed my life’s exposures and injuries. Nothing stood out as a catalyst. I had a couple of jobs that I may have been exposed to less than favorable environmental conditions. However, the people I worked with back then were all exposed for a much greater length of time than I was and they lived into their 80s. I’m a health and exercise enthusiast, but nothing out of the ordinary that so many others don’t also do. If what I did was the cause of ALS, then I would expect a lot more people to have it, and not be so rare. I agree with you, all I can think of as a cause for my ALS is perhaps it is a combination of genetics, environment, lifestyle, personality traits, injuries, previous illnesses, nutrition, etc. I must have created the perfect environment for ALS to take root.
In the absence of useful medication, if you are interested in learning more about clinical trials, the information and links provided by I AM ALS may be a good starting point to familiarize yourself with the topic and available trials. My name is currently on a waiting list for a Healey Trial opening.
Clinical Trial Dashboard
https://iamals.org/get-help/als-signal-clinical-research-dashboard/Dashboard Introductory Video
https://youtu.be/aeLYTqx6a9wFind A Clinical Trial
https://iamals.org/get-help/als-treatments-and-trials/#clinical-trialsClinical Trial 101
https://www.neals.org/als-trials/als-clinical-research/what-is-a-clinical-trial-and-why-are-they-necessary-for-alsTake care,
Rich -
I was injured in the Army in 1979. Back then, they said I had a low back strain, and MRI’s were yet to be discovered. By 2014, my lumbar strain became severe, and was now scoliosis. (Surgeon said it was originally a disk injury that started the breakdown of my spine like a domino effect.) I went to the VA for help, and they sent me to therapy. In therapy, I was given a single exercise to do which actually was the cause of my nerve injury. Started with tingling in my lower left leg (LLE), then twitching, foot drop and finally they gave me an X-ray and MRI. My spine was a hot mess, so finally at the end of 2015, I had to go through a 4 level fusion and 9 other procedures for my L3-S1 spine.
The injury to the nerves in my spine were certainly the trigger that started this roller coaster ride. Diagnosed 3 Oct 2019, 4 years after the nerve injury.
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