Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: When Nerve Cells Run Out of Power

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a serious disease of the nervous system, in which the brain and spinal cord cannot communicate properly with the muscles to coordinate the body’s movements. Consequently, the muscles gradually stop working and things like walking, eating, breathing, and speaking become more and more difficult. Many aspects of ALS remain a mystery, but we know that cells called neurons run out of energy in ALS patients, resulting in the loss of communication with muscles. This happens due to defects in mitochondria—the tiny structures within our cells that produce energy. Researchers have been working hard to discover how to keep mitochondria healthy, avoid the death of nerve cells, and ultimately restore the communication between neurons and muscles.