Download Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

● AKA Lou Gehrig's Disease
● Causes motor neurons to deteriorate affecting
voluntary muscle movements
● Motor neurons don't send messages to muscles
causing the muscles to weaken
● Brain’s ability to send signals to voluntary
move is lost
● Muscle Weakness and Difficulty Using
o Limbs
o Muscles used for Speaking, Swallowing, or Breathing
● Tremors
● Muscle Cramping
● Jumbled/Slurred Speech
● Advanced Stages:
o Difficulty Breathing (shortness of breath)
o Difficulty Swallowing
● Progressive dementia
● 25 years old
● Has developed muscle weakness in her arms
● Has difficulty lifting objects
● She is worried she inherited the disease from her mother
● Cerebellum
● Cerebral Cortex
● Frontal Lobe
● Motor Cortex
● Process of Elimination (No specific diagnostic testing currently)
o Electrodiagnostic Testing
 Electromyography (EMG)
 Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV)
o Blood/Urine Samples
o Spinal Tap
o X-Ray
o Biopsy (Muscle/Nerve)
o MRI
● Genetic Testing
o SOD1 Gene on Chromosome 21 Q
o of Chromosome 9 P
● Incurable
● Riluzole
o Decreases release of glutamate
o Reduce damage to motor neurons
o Prolongs life by several months
o Prolongs time before mechanical intervention such as ventilators
● Diaphragm Pacing Systems
o For late stage ALS
o Assists with breathing for ALS patients
o Delays need for ventilators
● Ventilator
● Gastrostomies
● Average life span with early detection of weakness is about 5 years
● Wheel chair
● Stages
o Symptoms
o Diagnosis
o Involvement of second region (of the brain)
o Involvement of third region (of the brain)
o Gastrostomies
o Machine Ventilation
● Therapy
● The brain of an ALS patient is significantly smaller than a brain of
a normal person. This is because neurons start to break down and
die causing a decrease in brain matter. The neurons that are
affected are noticed to be in different parts of the brain.
MRI technician
● Operate magnetic resonance imaging scanner (MRI) which create
diagnostic images of body tissues
● Responsibilities:
o Prep patients for scan and positions them inside scanner
o Calibrating MRI and it’s parts and ensuring its functioning properly
o Screening patients (interviewing) for things which would prevent
patient from continuing on to having the scan (pregnancy,
pacemaker)
● Education
o Associate's degree in magnetic resonance imaging
● How do they help a possible ALS patient?
o Create images of ALS patient’s brain, spinal cord and nerves in order
to eliminate other possible conditions such as MS, stroke, or tumors
X-Ray Technician
● Preform X-Ray imaging exam/scan which create 2-D images of dense
areas of the body (bone)
● Responsibilities:
o Maintaining/upkeeping of their machine
o Operating X-Ray Equipment
o Keep records of procedures
● Education
o Associates degree
o Certification (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists)
● How do they help a possible ALS patient?
o Conduct X-Ray which is used to eliminate other possible
diseases/conditions
ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic. (2014, January 1). Retrieved November 14, 2014, from
http://www.massgeneral.org/als/patienteducation/DiagnosingALS.aspx
American Journal of Neuroradiology. (2014, January 1). Retrieved November 14, 2014, from
http://www.ajnr.org/content/21/4/647/F1.expansion.html
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet. (2014, September 19). Retrieved November 14, 2014, from
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/detail_als.htm
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis . (2014, May 2). Retrieved November 14, 2014, from
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1170097-overview
Become a MRI Technician: Education and Career Roadmap. (2013, January 1). Retrieved November 14, 2014, from
http://education-portal.com/become_a_mri_technician.html
Sapko, M.D, M. (2014, March 1). How to Become an X-Ray Technician. Retrieved November 14, 2014, from
http://www.innerbody.com/careers-in-health/how-to-become-an-x-ray-technician.html
What is ALS? (2010, January 1). Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://www.alsa.org/about-als/symptoms.html