Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – Definition & Meaning

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It is a debilitating disease that causes muscle weakness, difficulty in speaking, swallowing, and breathing. ALS is a rare disease that affects approximately 2 in 100,000 people worldwide.

Definitions

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a disease that affects the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy. It is a progressive disease that worsens over time and eventually leads to death.

Origin

The exact cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is not known, but it is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some studies suggest that exposure to certain toxins or viruses may increase the risk of developing ALS.

Meaning in different dictionaries

  • Merriam-Webster: a rare progressive degenerative fatal disease affecting the motor neurons, usually beginning in middle age, and characterized especially by increasing and spreading muscular weakness and atrophy.
  • Oxford Dictionary: a rare and fatal degenerative disease of the nervous system in which progressive muscle weakness leads to paralysis.
  • Cambridge Dictionary: a serious disease that causes the muscles to become weak and eventually leads to the person’s death.

Associations

ALS is commonly associated with the famous baseball player Lou Gehrig, who was diagnosed with the disease in 1939. The disease gained widespread attention in the 2010s due to the “Ice Bucket Challenge” social media campaign, which aimed to raise awareness and funds for ALS research.

Synonyms

  • Motor neuron disease.
  • Charcot disease.

Antonyms

There are no antonyms for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The same root words

The word “amyotrophic” is derived from the Greek words “a-” meaning “not” and “myo-” meaning “muscle,” while “trophic” means “nourishment.” “Lateral” refers to the location of the affected motor neurons in the spinal cord. “Sclerosis” means “hardening.”

Example Sentences

  • My uncle was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis last year and has been struggling with muscle weakness ever since.
  • The Ice Bucket Challenge helped raise millions of dollars for ALS research.
  • ALS is a rare disease that affects the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
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