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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known asSLA or Lou Gehrig's diseaseis a rare neurological disorder that, about 20,000 inhabitants of the United States live in a given year. And if your chances of receiving an alternative diagnosis can be relatively small, the prognosis of people with ALS is sorry. According to disease control and prevention centers (CDC), patients with SLA typicallylive only two to five years After showing symptoms, which usually include muscle weakness or rigidity, spasms, fatigue and difficulty to swallow, among others.

Researchers know that these symptoms arise because of the diseaseattacking motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord that arenecessary for muscle movementBut the fundamental cause of SLA is still unfortunately unknown. EXpersts say that genetic and environmental factors are probably playing a role. In fact, a genetic factor can give you an overview of your risk level. Read it to discover the only thing that 90% of people with SLA have in common.

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According to the ALS association (ALSA), almost90% of patients have "sporadic ALS" A type of ALS that is not inherited by genetic mutations. In these cases, the diagnosed person is the only person in their families with the disease. The appearance of their disease usually occurs later than in patients with known family history of ALS.

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The remaining 10% of SLA cases are considered "Als Family" (FAL). "In such cases,More than one person in the family A SLA and sometimes family members havefrontal dementia also. People with FALS often start showing symptoms at previous ages than in Sporadic SLA, "writesDeborah Hartzfeld, MS, a certified genetic advisor (via ALSA).

This statistic can stimulate confusion for some chances of developing SLA based on family history. While nine people out of 10 AS SLAs will have no known family history, you are much more likely to develop ALS if you have a family history of the disease than if you do not do it.

The mutation of FALS genes is most oftenautosomal dominant, meaning that only one parent must have it to pass it on to their children. This also means that the parent concerned has a copy of the gene with a mutation and a solution without, which means that they have a 50% chance of the transmission of mutation to their offspring.

According to the ALS association, "typically, although not always, there will be a person in every generation with ALS and / ordementia, "which appears next to the ALS in a third of cases. It should be noted that everyone with genetic mutation will continue to develop symptoms of ALS.

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Although 90% of SLA cases do not result from inherited genetic mutation, genetic screening can help you better understand your risk if you have a family history. This will usually require a blood test or saliva and can take several months for results. The results can only be interpreted if the person in your family diagnosed with ALS is also able to participate in tests.

However, ALSA emphasizes that even with genetic tests, you can not exclude the possibility of going to the family SLA. "Do not have a identified genetic mutation does not eliminate a diagnosis of FALS and other family members can always be at risk of developing SLA," explains the organization. Speaking with your doctor is the first step and most important for your personal risk - especially if you have any symptoms of SLA.

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