Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: one or multiple causes?

The Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease in the adulthood, and it is characterized by rapid and progressive compromise of the upper and lower motor neurons. The majority of the cases of ALS are classified as sporadic and, until now, a specific cause for...

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Published inNeurology International Vol. 3; no. 1; p. e4
Main Authors Bastos, Aline Furtado, Orsini, Marco, Machado, Dionis, Mello, Mariana Pimentel, Nader, Sergio, Silva, Júlio Guilherme, da Silva Catharino, Antonio M, de Freitas, Marcos R G, Pereira, Alessandra, Pessoa, Luciane Lacerda, Sztajnbok, Flavio R, Leite, Marco Araújo, Nascimento, Osvaldo J M, Bastos, Victor Hugo
Format Journal Article Book Review
LanguageEnglish
Published Italy MDPI AG 29.04.2011
PAGEPress Publications
Subjects
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Etiology
Motor neurone disease
motor neuron disease
neuromuscular Diseases
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
hypothesis
review
etiology
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Summary:The Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease in the adulthood, and it is characterized by rapid and progressive compromise of the upper and lower motor neurons. The majority of the cases of ALS are classified as sporadic and, until now, a specific cause for these cases still is unknown. To present the different hypotheses on the etiology of ALS. It was carried out a search in the databases: Bireme, Scielo and Pubmed, in the period of 1987 to 2011, using the following keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, motor neuron disease, etiology, causes and epidemiology and its similar in Portuguese and Spanish. It did not have consensus as regards the etiology of ALS. Researches demonstrates evidences as regards intoxication by heavy metals, environmental and occupational causes, genetic mutations (superoxide dismutase 1), certain viral infections and the accomplishment of vigorous physical activity for the development of the disease. There is still no consensus regarding the involved factors in the etiology of ALS. In this way, new research about these etiologies are necessary, for a better approach of the patients, promoting preventive programs for the disease and improving the quality of life of the patients.
ISSN:2035-8385
2035-8377
DOI:10.4081/ni.2011.e4