Degenerative Diseases

The Nervous System

One of the more well-known groupings of degenerative diseases strikes the nervous system. Degenerative nerve diseases can affect many of the body's activities, such as movement and balance, heart function, talking, and breathing. Certain medical conditions, toxins, chemical exposures, and viruses can cause degenerative changes, such as alcohol abuse, tobacco abuse, tumors, and strokes. However, a significant number of these conditions are genetically based, meaning they occur in families or are caused by a genetic mutation.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia among the elderly. Onset usually occurs after the age of 60 and begins slowly by affecting a person's ability to control thought, memory, and language. Symptoms worsen over time and sufferers become unable to read, write, and perform activities of daily living. They may lose the ability to recognize family members and become anxious or aggressive or possibly wander away from their residence. In the end, people with Alzheimer's disease require total care. Some medications are available to delay the progression of the disease, but none have proved effective in stopping it entirely.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, attacks nerve cells, called motor neurons, in the brain and spinal cord. These neurons lose the [Page 126]ability to voluntarily control muscles. Initial symptoms include trouble with walking or running, writing, and speech. As the disease progresses, the patient loses strength and is unable to move. When the muscles of respiration fail, the individual is no longer able to breathe and dies from respiratory arrest. Onset of symptoms is usually between the ages of 40 and 60 years, and occurs more often in men than women. The exact cause of ALS is unknown, but some evidence suggests the immune system may be involved. Approximately 90 to 95 percent of cases are sporadic. There are no cures for ALS, but medicines are available to help relieve symptoms of the disease and prolong the patient's lifespan.

Parkinson's disease is a disorder affecting neurons in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. As these neurons degenerate, the brain's ability to generate body movements becomes disrupted and symptoms of Parkinson's disease occur. These symptoms include tremors, rigidity, loss of spontaneous movement, slowness of movement, and problems with walking and posture. There are no medications to cure the disease, but many treatments can slow the progression substantially. Many people with Parkinson's disease do not reach advanced stages of the disease because they continue to receive significant benefit from their anti-Parkinson medications.

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