Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Conclusion

Much progress has been made in understanding and treating ALS since Jean-Marie Charcot first described it in the late 19th century. With our increased knowledge of nerves and the nervous system, we have discerned some of the possible causes of ALS, enabling researchers to develop drugs to treat the disease. In addition to 20th and 21st century leaps in genetics and the soon-to-be complete Human Genome Project, new genes are being discovered that could help researchers pinpoint what exactly causes ALS.

Even with mankind's successful discoveries, there is much to be done in the future. The highest priority lies in increasing funding for ALS research. Not only will these provide more scientists, but increased materials for the scientists to work with. Since the universities and private organizations do a significant amount of ALS research, more money is needed to provide everyone with the adequate resources. With the account of more scientists, more experiments can be done, leading to a faster output of ALS data that can generate new drugs and therapy. More people can account for testing the hundreds of drugs in the world for ones suitable for treating ALS. In terms of gene therapy, there are millions of viruses that could be tested to be a transport vehicle of ALS genes, but it takes more than a team of scientists here and there to complete the task. The same goes for stem cell research, where with increased funding and hands, can provide better chances of finding efficient uses for stem cells in ALS treatment.

ALS is by no means rare, but for years, knowledge has been limited to those in the medical field and those affected by the disease, shadowed by illnesses such as AIDS. Striking with just as much force and an equal amount of devastation to the body as AIDS, ALS should be deserving of more attention in society. Perhaps then people will see how after one and a half centuries there is still no cure, people continuing to die early deaths from it. Only now in the last decade or so are the tides starting to shift. What we can expect in the future will be more discoveries in ALS treatment. We are on the right path to success, and somewhere over the horizon, a cure is waiting to be found.