amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
-
or Lou Gehrig disease
Degenerative nervous-system disorder causing muscle wasting and paralysis.
The disease usually occurs after age 40, more often in men. Most victims die within two to five years from respiratory muscle
atrophy. ALS affects motor
neurons; the muscles they control become weak and atrophied, with debility usually beginning in the hands and creeping slowly up to the shoulders. The lower limbs become weak and spastic. Variants include progressive muscular atrophy and progressive bulbar palsy. In 1993 the defective gene that accounts for 5–10% of cases was discovered; it produces an ineffective version of an enzyme that neutralizes free radicals, which destroy motor neurons.
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Universalium.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — A classic motor neuron disease. Motor neuron diseases are progressive chronic diseases of the nerves that come from the spinal cord responsible for supplying electrical stimulation to the muscles. This stimulation is necessary for the movement of … Medical dictionary
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — This article is about progressive Motor Neuron Disease (MND) affecting both the upper motor neurons and lower motor neurons. For MND affecting either but not necessarily both, see Motor neurone disease. ALS redirects here. For other uses, see ALS … Wikipedia
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — n a rare fatal progressive degenerative disease that affects pyramidal motor neurons, usu. begins in middle age, and is characterized esp. by increasing and spreading muscular weakness abbr. ALS called also Lou Gehrig s disease * * * a motor… … Medical dictionary
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) — A classic motor neuron disease. Motor neuron diseases are progressive chronic diseases of the nerves that come from the spinal cord responsible for supplying electrical stimulation to the muscles. This stimulation is necessary for the movement of … Medical dictionary
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — (ALS) A wasting neurological disease (Lou Gehrig’s disease), which some think can be caused by ingestion of cycad seeds, e.g. the Chamorro people of Guam who traditionally ate the seeds of Cycas micronesica have exhibited symptoms of this… … Expanded glossary of Cycad terms
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — noun thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord; results in progressive muscle atrophy that starts in the limbs • Syn: ↑ALS, ↑Lou Gehrig s disease • Hypernyms: ↑nervous disorder,… … Useful english dictionary
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — /ay muy euh trof ik, troh fik, ay muy euh /, Pathol. an incurable disease of unknown cause in which progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord leads to atrophy and eventually complete paralysis of the voluntary… … Universalium
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — noun Etymology: 2a + my + trophic Date: 1886 a rare progressive degenerative fatal disease affecting the motor neurons, usually beginning in middle age, and characterized especially by increasing and spreading muscular weakness and … New Collegiate Dictionary
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis — n. (Medicine) ALS, Lou Gehrig s disease, incurable progressive disease of the motor nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that causes their degeneration and muscle degeneration … English contemporary dictionary
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — a•my•o•troph′ic lat′eral sclero′sis [[t]ˌeɪ maɪ əˈtrɒf ɪk, ˈtroʊ fɪk, eɪˌmaɪ ə [/t]] n. pat a nervous system disease in which degeneration of motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord leads to atrophy and paralysis of the voluntary muscles… … From formal English to slang
