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No doubt you’ve already heard of the Ice Bucket Challenge
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and maybe you’ve participated too
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But what do you know about the disease behind this challenge, known as ALS or MND?
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ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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It is a motor neuron disease, and therefore
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in some countries better known as “MND”.
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In the US, the disease is also known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease”,
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after a famous baseball player who died of ALS.
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ALS is a neurologic disorder that causes increasing muscle weakness and eventually paralysis,
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which, in most cases, is fatal.
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Our brain sends signals through our nervous system to make our muscles move.
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ALS affects the motor neurons that carry these signals:
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the neurons in the brain and the spinal cord degenerate and die,
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causing the muscles to gradually weaken and the brain to lose control over voluntary muscle movement.
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This leads to all sorts of problems, such as increasing loss of mobility in the limbs,
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and difficulties with speech, swallowing and even breathing.
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ALS is an irreversible and progressive disease.
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Patients usually die within 3 to 5 years after diagnosis,
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primarily due to failure of the respiratory muscles.
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Each year, 1 to 2 people per 100 000 are diagnosed with ALS.
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Scientists don’t know yet how or why the disease develops
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and unfortunately there is no cure or treatment today.
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It is currently only possible to slow down the progression of the disease.
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In other words, a lot of money is needed to fund ALS research.
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So, when you pour a bucket of ice water over your head, don’t forget to also make a donation!