[Issue Pick] What kind of disease is Lou Gehrig's disease that plagued a genius physicist all his life?

 1970's soul diva Roberta Flack (85), who sang the worldwide hit song 'Killing Me Softly With His Song', was recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease and was saddened to be unable to sing anymore.

Lou Gehrig's disease, which genius physicist Dr. Stephen Hawking suffered throughout his life, is known as a fatal progressive disease that starts with slowly paralyzing muscles and later leads to death because you can't breathe on your own.

The cause of Lou Gehrig's disease, which is known to be about 1.5 times more common in men than in women, has not been accurately identified so far.

A dark shadow that plagued a soul diva and genius physicist.

Today, I would like to tell you about Lou Gehrig's disease.

'Whole body muscle paralysis' Lou Gehrig's disease...

The senses and mind are characterized by clarity

The official name of Lou Gehrig's disease is ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). '.

Lou Gehrig's disease, one of the representative incurable diseases, is a neurodegenerative disease in which motor nerve cells that play a role in transmitting signals between the brain and muscles gradually disappear, resulting in atrophy and paralysis of muscles throughout the body, resulting in complete inability to move even one finger.

It is difficult not only to eat, but also to walk, talk and breathe.

However, there is a characteristic that the sensory nerves and mind such as taste, smell, sight, touch, and hearing are maintained clear until death.

In Korea, it is known that about 4,094 people are suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease as of 2021. 

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Lou Gehrig's disease, which is divided into sporadic and genotype, the cause of the disease is still unclear

Lou Gehrig's disease is divided into sporadic and genotype according to several causes that have been identified so far, and there is no particular difference in symptoms.

Although the cause of 'sporadic Lou Gehrig's disease', which accounts for about 95% of all Lou Gehrig's disease patients, has not yet been accurately identified, various acquired factors are assumed to be the cause. 

In addition, 'hereditary Lou Gehrig's disease' is classified when it is found that a mutation in a specific gene among the genes (DNA) that each person has is the cause.

The gradual paralysis of the entire body...

Spurring the development of new drugs from a therapeutic perspective

A representative early symptom of Lou Gehrig's disease is the appearance of paralysis as the body loses strength throughout.

If you lose an object you are holding, if your limbs are numb and you fall more frequently as your legs lose strength, and you lose weight as your muscles decrease, or your speech becomes slurred.

After the middle period, I can hardly move my whole body, so I lie down for 24 hours.

The weakening of the respiratory muscles makes it difficult to breathe on its own, and the symptoms worsen to the point that you need the help of a ventilator.

There is no fundamental cure for Lou Gehrig's disease yet, only drugs that slow the progression.

That doesn't mean there is no hope at all.

On the 29th of last month, Relibrio, a new drug with a therapeutic perspective from Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, was approved by the US FDA, giving more strength to the development of new drugs from a therapeutic perspective, rather than existing symptom-relieving drugs.

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[Initial symptoms of Lou Gehrig's disease]

- Pronunciation becomes slurred.

- Sudden loss of strength in the hand and loss of the object being held.

- Frequent numbness or cramps in the limbs, loss of strength in the legs, and frequent falls.

- Muscle spasms all over the body, including the face, tongue, scalp, chest, hands, and arms.

- Frequent vomiting while swallowing water or food

- Difficulty controlling laughter or crying once started.

- The ability to swallow saliva is weakened, resulting in drooling.

- I can hardly move my whole body, so I lie down for 24 hours.

- It is difficult to swallow food, so nutrition is supplied through the nasal bridge.

- Pronunciation becomes difficult and the voice does not come out, making it impossible to speak.

- Communicate through eye movement and eyelid blinking.

- Breathing on their own is difficult due to weakening of the breathing muscles, so an artificial respirator must be used.

- Must receive help from others 24 hours a day for all daily activities.

's disease] - The case of cognitive impairment in patients with Lou Gehrig's disease is not due to Lou Gehrig's disease, but can be seen as accompanying other diseases such as dementia.

※ Refer to the website of <Seungil Hope Foundation>