Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis causes
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Differentiating Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis from other Diseases |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Scientists have not found a definitive cause for ALS and the onset of the disease has been linked to several factors, including: a virus; exposure to neurotoxins or heavy metals; DNA defects; immune system abnormalities; and enzyme abnormalities. There is a known hereditary factor in familial ALS (FALS); however, there is no known hereditary component in the 90-95% cases diagnosed as sporadic ALS.
Cause
- An inherited genetic defect linked to a defect on chromosome 21 is believed to cause approximately 40% of familial cases of ALS. This mutation is believed to be autosomal dominant
- The children of those diagnosed with familial ALS have a higher risk factor for developing the disease; however, those who have close family members diagnosed with sporadic ALS have no greater a risk factor than the general population [2]
- Prolonged exposure to a dietary neurotoxin is one suspected risk factor in Guam; the neurotoxin is a compound found in the seed of the cycad Cycas circinalis,[1] a tropical plant found in Guam, which was used in the human food supply during the 1950s and early 1960s.
References
- ↑ Bains J, et al. (2002). "Isolation of various forms of sterol beta-D-glucoside from the seed of Cycas circinalis: neurotoxicity and implications for ALS-parkinsonism dementia complex".J. Neurochem. 82(3):516-28. PMID: 12153476.