Smart Talk: Beyond the challenge — what to know about ALS
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS is probably getting more attention this summer than any time since 1939 when New York Yankees superstar Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with the disease.
The awareness and attention can be traced to the Ice Bucket Challenge. Hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, of Americans have dumped ice water on their heads and challenged friends and acquaintances to do the same or write a check to the ALS Association. Many dumped the water and also contributed money. As of Sunday, more than $70 million has been raised.
While so many people were having fun with their Ice Bucket Challenges, it highlighted how little medical science actually knows about ALS.
The disease affects cells in the brain and spinal cord and from the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body. ALS progresses to a point where motor neurons die and muscles can’t be controlled.
We don’t know what causes ALS and it is incurable. About 20-30,000 people live with ALS in the U.S. at any one time.
Travis Haines, Maureen Reed, Judy Lyter
We’ll learn more about ALS on Smart Talk from Maureen Reed, a registered nurse and Judy Lyter, a nurse counselor with the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of ALS Association which includes Central Pennsylvania,and Travis Haines, a clinical research coordinator at Penn State Hershey’s Neuroscience Institute.
