Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS ) is a progressive neurological disease that destroys the neurons that control voluntary muscle movements. The first symptoms of ALS are typically weakness in the limbs and muscle twitches, but the illness eventually disrupts patients’ abilities to move, speak, and even breathe. Treatments exist to extend patient quality of life, but only for a matter of months. There is currently no cure for ALS, and those who develop the disease typically die from respiratory failure within two to five years following the emergence of symptoms. Researchers have yet to determine a full etiology for ALS. Genetics does play a partial role, with between 5 percent and 10 percent of those diagnosed with the disease being genetically predisposed to it. This is known as familial ALS (fALS). The remaining cases emerge following exposure to environmental hazards and are known as sporadic ALS (sALS). A strong association between cigarette smoking and sALS has been … [Read more...] about A Gut Feeling About ALS