FAST FACTS: ALS and the ice bucket challenge

Not all those who join the video challenge know what ALS is, or what the video is all
about. Here are some facts you need to know about the disease and the ice bucket
challenge. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, named for the legendary New York
Yankees first baseman who died prematurely after contracting the neurodegenerative
disorder.

First baseman
Born: June 19, 1903
Yorkville, New York City, New York
Died: June 2, 1941 (aged 37)
Riverdale, New York City, New York

MANILA, Philippines You've definitely

seen at least one of those viral ice
bucket challenge videos.
These viral videos are the latest craze on
the Internet. The New York
Times reported thatmore than 1.2 million
videos were shared on Facebook
between June 1 and August 13, and that
the challenge was mentioned on Twitter
more than 2.2 million times since July 29 this year.
These viral videos try to raise awareness about a disease called ALS. And it helped that
even big personalities have taken part in not just making the disease known, but also
donating for this cause. (READ: Zuckerberg, Timberlake, Fallon take on ice bucket
challenge)
Not all those who have joined the video challenge actually know what ALS is, or what the
video is all about.
Here are some facts you need to know about the disease and the ice bucket challenge.

What does ALS mean?

ALS stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease
that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Amyo-trophic is from the Greek language that means "no
muscle nourishment" "A" means no or negative, "myo"
means muscle, and "trophic" means nourishment. "Lateral"
refers to the areas in the spinal cord where portions of the
nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are located.
As the lateral degenerates, it leads to scarring or hardening
(or sclerosis) in the affected part.
What does ALS do to the body?
ALS causes the progressive degeneration of the motor neurons, which control muscle
movements. As motor neurons degenerate, they can no longer send impulses to the
muscle fibers that normally result in movement. When muscles no longer receive
messages from the motor neurons, they begin to shrink. Dead motor neurons make the
brain lose its ability to initiate and control muscle movement,
affecting the action of voluntary muscles which could lead to total
paralysis.
What are the symptoms of ALS?
To be diagnosed with ALS, patients must have signs and
symptoms of both upper and lower motor neuron damage.
Body parts affected by early ALS symptoms depend on which
motor neurons in the body are damaged first. About 75% of
patients first experience "limb onset" symptoms in the arms
(difficulty in arm activities such as writing) or legs (awkwardness
when walking or running, tripping or stumbling, etc) while about
25% experience "bulbar onset" (difficulty in speaking clearly or
swallowing.)
Upper motor neuron degeneration leads to tight and stiff muscles and exaggerated
reflexes, while lower motor neuron degeneration causes muscle weakness and atrophy,
muscle cramps, and twitches of muscles.
In later stages, lung and eye functions may be affected. Most people with ALS die from
respiratory failure, usually within 3 to 5 years from the onset of symptoms. However,
about 10% of those with ALS survive for 10 or more years.
What causes ALS?
The cause of ALS is not yet completely known. But scientific researches have found that
ALS may have some genetic links. In 1993, scientists discovered that mutations in the
gene that produce SOD1 enzyme are associated with some cases of ALS. Also, in 2011,
scientists found that a defect in the C9orf72 gene is present in both ALS and
frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients, revealing that these disorders may be related.
In 90 to 95 percent of all ALS cases, the disease occurs randomly, with no clear
factor or cause.

Environmental factors such as exposure to toxic or infectious agents, physical trauma,

and behavioral and occupational factors are also being studied to see whether they also
cause ALS.
Who gets ALS?
ALS is considered to be one of the most common neuromuscular diseases worldwide. In
90 to 95% of all ALS cases, the disease occurs randomly, with no clear factor or cause.
In the US, there are 3.9 cases per 100,000 persons. ALS is said to be more common
among white males, non-Hispanics, and persons aged 6069 years, but younger and
older people can also develop the disease.
About 5 to 10% of all ALS cases are inherited. (READ: ALS: The silently slow killer)
How is ALS treated?
There is no cure yet for ALS. But in 1995, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approved the use of riluzole, which is believed to reduce damage to motor neurons. This
drug prolongs survival by several months, but does not repair already-damaged motor
neurons.
Also, physical therapy and special equipment can enhance an individuals independence
and safety throughout the course of ALS.
What is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge?
Participants who accept the challenge (mostly those
who've been tagged or mentioned by challengers) have
to record a video of themselves pouring ice-cold water
on their head. They have to state that they choose to
participate to raise awareness of ALS, and that they
have to accomplish it within 24 hours after they are
identified by a challenger.
Those who are challenged but choose not to accept it
will have to donate $100 to an ALS association of his or
her choice. However, most of those who accepted the
challenge, particularly big personalities, still pledged to
donate.
How did the Ice Bucket Challenge begin?
The idea of dousing cold water on one's head to raise money has early origins, and they
are not exclusive to ALS awareness.
The exact date of its origin is unclear. A Slate report says that a search of the hashtag
#icebucketchallenge on Instagram indicates that video challenges began as early as
2013, with most of them being done just for fun.
But the ALS reference in ice bucket challenge videos reportedly began in a video posted
on July 15, 2014 by golfer Chris Kennedy. He tagged and challenged his cousin in New
York, whose husband has had ALS for 11 years.
The feeling of ice-cold water over the body is said to be similar to the numbing effect of
ALS.
Since then, the video challenge has spread on the Internet.
How much has been raised?

The ALS Association in the US has reportedly received $41.8 million in donations
between July 29 and August 21, 2014. This is a big jump compared to just $2.1 million
received during the same time period last year.
The ALS Therapy Development Institute, also in the US, has reported a big jump in the
amount of donations it has received after the viral video challenge.
Critics, however, point out that most participants focus mainly on the fun act of doing the
challenge rather than actually donating or raising awareness of ALS.

Corey Griffin, the 27-year-old co-founder of the ALS "ice bucket challenge," died following
a diving accident, just hours after raising $100,000 for ALS.
The Drug Enforcement Agency plans toreclassify Vicodin and other hydrocodonecontaining painkillers as Schedule II, making them harder to obtain.
Pediatrician Paul M. Fleiss, MD, father of "Hollywood Madam" Heidi Fleiss, has died at 80.
As people throughout the world were accepting the ice bucket challenge, former NFL
player Tim Shaw announced that he has ALS, the fourth current or former professional
football player to have an ALS diagnosis in the past 7 years. The case adds to evidence
of an association between football and the disease.
A medical examiner in Connecticut has ruled homicide in the hyperthermia death of a
15-month-old boy. The boy died last month after spending an entire day inside a car
while his father assumed the child was at day care.
Do it yourself diagnosis: Ed Yong reports on how an extreme athlete uncovered her
genetic flaw.
Former Olympic swimmer Amy Van Dyken-Rouen has taken her first steps with the aid of
a bionic exoskeleton, 2 months after an all-terrain vehicle accident left her paralyzed
from the waist down.
Law enforcement officials have arrested the second co-owner of California
slaughterhouse at the center of accusations involving the sale of unapproved beef from
cows with a form of eye cancer.
Not waiting for the FDA to act, Consumer Reports has added tuna to the list of fish that
women should avoid during pregnancy because of concerns about mercury exposure.
Disruptive behavior among physicians surfaces every now and again, and continued
vigilance for professional conduct is still needed, according to this JAMA Viewpoint.
A Washington Post investigation suggests that some hospices have killed non-terminal
patients with lethal doses of opioids and other drugs.
Will "dueling autopsies" help sort out the truth behind the shooting of Michael Brown by
a Ferguson, Mo., police officer?