What causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis? [version 1; referees: 3 approved]

• Main Authors: Sarah Martin, Ahmad Al Khleifat, Ammar Al-Chalabi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2017-03-01
• Series: F1000Research
• Subjects: Medical Genetics; Motor Systems; Multiple Sclerosis & Related Disorders; Neurobiology of Disease & Regeneration; Neurogenetics; Occupational & Environmental Medicine; Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health
• Online Access: https://f1000research.com/articles/6-371/v1

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease predominantly affecting upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in progressive paralysis and death from respiratory failure within 2 to 3 years. The peak age of onset is 55 to 70 years, with a male predominance. The causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are only partly known, but they include some environmental risk factors as well as several genes that have been identified as harbouring disease-associated variation. Here we review the nature, epidemiology, genetic associations, and environmental exposures associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.