Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Many autoimmune processes are fatal. ALS, also named Lou Gehrig's disease after the famous Baseball player who died due to ALS, is a progressive, fatal neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling muscles. In ALS, both the brain and the spinal neurons degenerate and die. ALS is triggered by diverse antigens; some are toxic exposures, injuries and infections. One study in Guam looked at the pathogeneses of the disease revealed high aluminum in the water and a plant excitatory neurotoxin as possible causes. In Italy, an increasing number of soccer players have developed ALS; some have connected this with the use of illegal toxic substances or exposure to pesticides used on playing fields.

Symptoms of ALS include muscle weakening, muscles waste away and twitch. Patients with ALS lose their strength and the ability to move their arms, legs, and body. Muscles in the diaphragm and chest wall fail, and then patients lose the ability to breathe. In most cases the disease does not impair a person's mind, a small percentage of patients may experience problems with memory or decision-making, and there is growing evidence that some may even develop dementia.