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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: one or multiple causes?

The Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease in the adulthood, and it is characterized by rapid and progressive compromise of the upper and lower motor neurons. The majority of the cases of ALS are classified as sporadic and, until now, a specific cause for...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Bastos, Aline Furtado, Orsini, Marco, Machado, Dionis, Mello, Mariana Pimentel, Nader, Sergio, Silva, Júlio Guilherme, da Silva Catharino, Antonio M., de Freitas, Marcos R.G., Pereira, Alessandra, Pessoa, Luciane Lacerda, Sztajnbok, Flavio R., Leite, Marco Araújo, Nascimento, Osvaldo J.M., Bastos, Victor Hugo
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: PAGEPress Publications 2011
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3141115/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21785676
http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/ni.2011.e4
Descripción
Sumario:The Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease in the adulthood, and it is characterized by rapid and progressive compromise of the upper and lower motor neurons. The majority of the cases of ALS are classified as sporadic and, until now, a specific cause for these cases still is unknown. To present the different hypotheses on the etiology of ALS. It was carried out a search in the databases: Bireme, Scielo and Pubmed, in the period of 1987 to 2011, using the following keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, motor neuron disease, etiology, causes and epidemiology and its similar in Portuguese and Spanish. It did not have consensus as regards the etiology of ALS. Researches demonstrates evidences as regards intoxication by heavy metals, environmental and occupational causes, genetic mutations (superoxide dismutase 1), certain viral infections and the accomplishment of vigorous physical activity for the development of the disease. There is still no consensus regarding the involved factors in the etiology of ALS. In this way, new research about these etiologies are necessary, for a better approach of the patients, promoting preventive programs for the disease and improving the quality of life of the patients.