Did Lou Gehrig Die of Lou Gehrig's Disease?

Lou Gehrig, the baseball legend, may have died of the disease that carries his name, or of a condition that is remarkably similar, claims a new study.

Scientists examined 12 athletes who had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and found that three of them had symptoms that looked like those of Lou Gehrig's disease, amyotophic lateral sclerosis.

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Head injury or traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of disability among children and young adults that leads to varying degrees of physical and mental stability. Fortunately, it is also one of the preventable brain disorder.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is an incurable disease that kills by destroying the nervous system.

The patient slowly loses the ability to control his or her muscle movement, eventually becoming completely paralyzed.

Researchers at Boston University discovered that three athletes had symptoms that looked like those of ALS. CTE, however, develops after a patient sustains multiple head injuries.

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ALS symptoms are seen in athletes exposed to intense physical games, causing trauma to the head, and to the brain.

"What we're looking at is a brand new disease, another motor neuron disease that seems to be associated with head trauma," ABC News quoted Dr. Robert Stern as saying.

Scientists Identify Genes Tied to Lou Gehrig's Disease
Researchers at Michigan Technological University have identified three genes that play a major role in the most common type of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The study authors are calling the newly identified condition chronic traumatic encephalomyopathy (CTEM), and said it is "likely" caused by repeated head injuries.

Source-ANI

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