How is als prevented

Still others point to possible defects in the structure and shape of motor neurons, as well as increased susceptibility to environmental toxins. Environmental factors Researchers are studying the impact of environmental factors, such as exposure to toxic or infectious agents, viruses, physical trauma, diet, and behavioral and occupational factors. For example, exposure to toxins during warfare, or strenuous physical activity, are possible reasons for why some veterans and athletes may be at increased risk of developing ALS.

Ongoing research may show that some factors are involved in the development or progression of the disease. There is no single test that provides a definitive diagnosis of ALS. A neurologic examination at regular intervals can assess whether symptoms such as muscle weakness, muscle wasting, and spasticity are progressively getting worse.

There is no treatment to reverse damage to motor neurons or cure ALS. However, treatments can help control symptoms, prevent unnecessary complications, and make living with the disease easier. Supportive health care is best provided by multidisciplinary teams of professionals such as physicians; pharmacists; physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapists; nutritionists; social workers; clinical psychologists; and home care and hospice nurses. These teams can design an individualized treatment plan and provide special equipment aimed at keeping people as mobile, comfortable, and independent as possible.

Drugs also are available to help individuals with pain, depression, sleep disturbances, and constipation. Gentle, low-impact aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming, and stationary bicycling can strengthen unaffected muscles and range of motion and stretching exercises can help prevent painful spasticity and shortening contracture of muscles.

Physical therapists can recommend exercises that provide these benefits without overworking muscles. Occupational therapists can suggest devices such as ramps, braces, walkers, and wheelchairs that help individuals conserve energy and remain mobile.

People with ALS who have difficulty speaking may benefit from working with a speech therapist, who can teach adaptive strategies to speak louder and more clearly. As ALS progresses, speech therapists can help people maintain the ability to communicate. Devices such as computer-based speech synthesizers use eye-tracking technology and can help people develop ways for responding to yes-or-no questions with their eyes or by other nonverbal means.

Some people with ALS may choose to use voice banking while they are still able to speak as a process of storing their own voice for future use in computer-based speech synthesizers. A brain-computer interface BCI is a system that allows individuals with ALS to communicate or control equipment such as a wheelchair using only brain activity.

Nutritionists can teach individuals and caregivers how to plan and prepare small meals throughout the day that provide enough calories, fiber, and fluid and how to avoid foods that are difficult to swallow.

People may begin using suction devices to remove excess fluids or saliva and prevent choking. When individuals can no longer eat, doctors may advise inserting a feeding tube, which reduces the risk of choking and pneumonia that can result from inhaling liquids into the lungs.

As the muscles responsible for breathing start to weaken, people may experience shortness of breath during physical activity and difficulty breathing at night or when lying down. Initially, NIV may only be necessary at night but may eventually be used full time. Because the muscles that control breathing become weak, individuals with ALS may also have trouble generating a strong cough.

There are several techniques to help people increase forceful coughing, including mechanical cough assistive devices. As the disease progresses, individuals may need mechanical ventilation respirators in which a machine inflates and deflates the lungs. Doctors may place a breathing tube through the mouth or may surgically create a hole at the front of the neck and insert a tube leading to the windpipe tracheostomy. Although ventilation support can ease breathing problems and prolong survival, it does not affect the progression of ALS.

As ALS progresses and nerve cells are destroyed, the muscles get weaker. ALS doesn't usually affect your bladder control or your senses. ALS has been linked with chemical imbalances in the brain or central nervous system.

In some people, the condition may be caused by a malfunctioning immune system, while others may inherit a genetic mutation that predisposes them to it. Still, in most people with ALS, the condition appears to develop randomly. Genetics Five to 10 percent of people with ALS inherit it from one of their parents.

Age Although ALS can develop at any age, your risk increases with age, with 55 being the average age of diagnosis. Sex Men are slightly more likely than women to develop ALS before age After age 70, the risk is the same for men and women. Smoking Tobacco smoking appears to increase the risk of ALS, especially in women who are post-menopausal.

Exposure to toxins Some studies link lead and other substances to ALS. While many studies have been done on the topic, none have proved that a particular agent or chemical is definitively associated with ALS.

More research is being conducted on possible causes, such as toxic or infectious agents, viruses, physical trauma, and diet, as well as behavioral and occupational factors.

Military service The U. There is some evidence that those who have served in the military are at higher risk of ALS, with some studies putting veterans at about 1. The reason for this increased risk isn't known. Speculation revolves around exposure to metals, chemicals, or pesticides during warfare, traumatic injuries, viral infections, and extreme physical exertion. High glutamate levels In addition, some people with ALS have increased levels of glutamate , a chemical messenger in the brain, around the nerve cells in spinal fluid.

Too much glutamate is toxic to some nerve cells, and may contribute to the development of ALS. This attack could cause ALS. Some studies have found that people with ALS have virus cells in their spinal cords. These viral cells have similar properties to echovirus-7 , which causes meningitis and rare cases of encephalitis. Abnormal proteins Finally, research suggests that the formation of abnormal proteins in nerve cells can cause the condition by destroying the affected nerve cells.

More research is needed to understand this process. Many different types of ALS have been identified. Research indicates that 90 percent or more of ALS is sporadic, meaning it appears to develop randomly in people of all ages and racial and ethnic backgrounds around the world. The individuals who develop sporadic ALS don't have any known risk factors for ALS or a family history of the disease. But family members of people with sporadic ALS do have a slightly higher risk of developing the disease.

About 5 to 10 percent of all cases of ALS in the United States are familial or genetic, meaning inherited from a parent.

Mutations in more than 12 genes have been found to cause familial ALS. This mutation has also been connected to atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which causes frontotemporal lobe dementia. Some people with this mutation show signs of both motor neuron and dementia symptoms. Mutations in the SOD1 gene , which is associated with the production of the enzyme copper-zinc superoxide dismutase 1, occurs in 12 to 20 percent of familial cases.

Because the symptoms of ALS tend to come on slowly, it can take some time to reach a definitive diagnosis. Once a neurological disease is suspected, a neurologist will conduct a variety of exams and tests to narrow down the diagnosis, including:. Electromyogram In an EMG, your doctor inserts a needle electrode through your skin into various muscles. This test measures the electrical activity of your muscles when they contract and when they're at rest.

The findings on this test can also help guide exercise therapy for your ALS. Nerve conduction study A nerve conduction study measures the ability of your nerves to send impulses to muscles in different parts of your body. This test can spot nerve damage or certain diseases of the muscles or nerves. MRI MRI uses radio waves and a powerful magnetic field to produce detailed images of your brain and spinal cord.

It can reveal spinal cord tumors, herniated disks in your neck, and other conditions that might be causing your symptoms. Blood and urine tests Analyzing samples of your blood and urine can also help your doctor rule out other possible causes of your signs and symptoms, including autoimmune disorders.

Spinal tap In a spinal tap or lumbar puncture, a surgeon will remove a sample of your spinal fluid for laboratory testing using a small needle inserted between two vertebrae in your lower back. Muscle biopsy Finally, a muscle biopsy can be used to rule out other causes of your symptoms.

Under local anesthesia, a surgeon will remove a small portion of your muscle and send it to a lab for analysis. If ALS appears to run in your family, genetic testing may be an option to help you understand your risk. A genetic test can determine if the disease is caused by mutated genes that are inherited.

According to the ALS Association, about 60 to 70 percent of people with FALS will have a positive genetic test result, meaning a mutation is identified. Genetic testing doesn't change the course of medical treatment if you already have ALS.

Some insurance plans cover genetic testing for ALS and others do not. Check with your insurance company for details before being tested. The ALS Association breaks down costs of genetic testing this way: 6. To undergo a genetic test, see a genetic counselor, who can tell you if you are a candidate for testing. This usually starts as occasional, mild slurring of words, but becomes more severe. Speech eventually becomes difficult for others to understand, and people with ALS often rely on other communication technologies to communicate.

People with ALS can develop malnutrition and dehydration from damage to the muscles that control swallowing. They are also at higher risk of getting food, liquids or saliva into the lungs, which can cause pneumonia.

A feeding tube can reduce these risks and ensure proper hydration and nutrition. Some people with ALS have problems with memory and decision-making, and some are eventually diagnosed with a form of dementia called frontotemporal dementia. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Just what is ALS? ALS Association. Accessed June 28, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Rochester, Minn. Eating bright colored foods, especially those that are yellow, orange, and red, may prevent or slow the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS. The study, published in the journal Annals of Neurology , confirmed that colorful carotenoids prevented the onset of ALS , while diets high in lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and vitamin C did not decrease ALS risk.

Carotenoids are what make fruits and vegetables a bright red, orange, or yellow color, and are a dietary source of Vitamin A. Earlier research reported that oxidative stress contributes to the development of ALS. Other research has shown that people with high antioxidant intake, such as vitamin E have a decreased risk of ALS. Carotenoids and vitamin C are antioxidants , therefore the researchers decided to analyze their link to ALS risk.

ALS is a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells neurons in the spinal cord and brain, which dictate the actions of voluntary muscles. When the lower and upper motor neurons deteriorate the muscles they influence slowly break down and waste away, resulting in paralysis.

Senior author Dr.