DefinitionImagine slowly losing all muscle function in your body. I am no longer able to raise my arms, walk or speak. You can still think properly, your brain isn't affected, but your body is shutting down. Leave your mind trapped in an immobile structure. This is what amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease does to its victims (NIH, 2013). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease is caused when upper and lower motor neurons begin to die or stop sending messages to the muscles. When muscles don't work due to a lack of messages sent to them, they begin to weaken. As this disease progresses, the body functions slow to a minimum and the respiratory muscles begin to fail causing breathing problems. This is usually how most people with this disease die, from respiratory failure (NIH, 2013). Causes Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease has no known factor that causes it to appear. It has been studied and is believed to be caused by a genetic mutation. It can also be transmitted through genes (NIH, 2013). Researchers continue to look for causes such as toxic exposure and what genetic mutation causes it to occur. Scientists have found that the same gene known to cause frontotemporal dementia is also present in the ALS gene mutation (NIH, 2013). ALS has been found to affect middle-aged men. While women and children are also known to develop this disease, it is commonly found in middle-aged men around age 50 (Muscular Dystrophy Association, n.d.). Symptoms When a person begins to develop symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, they will begin to experience weakness in one area of ​​the body, abnormal reflexes, or stiffness. The tests that can be done to see if a person has ALS are blood tests, CT...... half of the article...... research and spreading awareness about this disease continues, there it is hope for a cure in the future.Works CitedALS Association. (n.d.). What is ALS?. Retrieved from http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html“Lou Gehrig Biography” (2013). Retrieved from http://www.lougehrig.com/about/bio.htmlMurray, B., Mitsumoto, H., & Shaw, P. (2012). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In L. Jasmine, VeriMed Health Care Network, D. Dugdale, and D. Zieve (Eds.), retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001708/Muscular Dystrophy Association. (n.d.). Overview: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Retrieved from http://mda.org/disease/amyotrophy-lateral-sclerosis/overviewOffice of Communications and Public Liaison. (2013, June). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophylateralsclerosis/detail_ALS.htm