ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, sometimes called Maladie de Charcot) is a progressive, usually fatal, neurodegenerative disease caused by the degeneration of motor neurons, the nerve cells in the central nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement. In the United States, the condition is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, after the New York Yankees baseball star who was diagnosed with the disease in 1939 and died from it two years later; today, renowned physicist Stephen Hawking is likely the best-known living ALS patient. The disorder causes muscle weakness and atrophy throughout the body as both the upper and lower motor neurons degenerate, ceasing to send messages to muscles. Unable to function, the muscles gradually weaken, develop fasciculations (twitches) because of denervation, and eventually atrophy because of that denervation. The patient may ultimately lose the ability to initiate and control all voluntary movement; bladder and bowel sphincters and the muscles responsible for eye movement are usually (but not always) spared.
Marijuana Facts and Resources:
- Cannabinol delays symptom onset
Study from the Department of Neurology, University of Washington showing cannabinol delaying symptom onset in transgenic mice without affecting survival. - Cannabis’ Potential Exciting Researchers in Treatment of ALS, Parkinson’s Disease (PDF Warning)
Research showing cannabis’ potential to be a treatment in ALS and Parkinson’s Disease.
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- Marijuana in the management of amyotrophic later sclerosis
- Cannabis use in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
