ALS....hereditary?

[JimBow]

So, it's been a hot minute since my last visit to this wonderful site. I hate having to repost with something on a down note, but here goes anyway:

So, just before I got back stateside, I found out a very close family member of mine has ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). I was wondering if it's hereditary or not, and what happens to an individual after having been diagnosed? Thanks guys.


P.S.
It's also my B-day, so I thought I'd throw that out there too. Yay for New Years Eve party!!!

[Sue]

Sending good wishes your way for your Birthday. How close in hours were you to being a New Years baby?

I am sorry to hear someone in your family has been diagnosed with ALS. As far as it being hereditary, I think there are two types. Your physician would be the best to have a discussion with.

Happy Birthday and Happy New Years!
Sue

[NightLad]

Happy Birthday to you!

Here is something from the ALS Association (click link for more):

Q. Is ALS hereditary?
A. ALS is directly hereditary in only a small percentage of families. The majority of patients with adult-onset ALS (90%) have no family history of ALS, and present as an isolated case. This is called sporadic ALS (SALS), and although there is likely a genetic predisposition involved, SALS is not directly inherited in a family. Rare exceptions are when familial ALS (FALS) is masked due to an incomplete family history, such as if the patient is adopted or the patient's parents died at a young age. The remaining 10% of persons with ALS have a close second family member with ALS, which is referred to as familial ALS (FALS).

I'm very sorry to hear about your family member. I know somebody whose mother had ALS. It touches the lives of many people, and I'm surprised we don't hear more about it. Hopefully that will change.

[azmark]

I've never heard of it being hereditary but I do know first hand how terrible it is. A police officer who works with my wife was diagnosed earlier in the year and his health has deteriorated drastically. 29 year old father of 4 children, can not walk on his own anymore. Even stand up for that matter. It is a horrendous disease.

We (community) just raised enough money to buy his family a van/bus to accommodate his family and all his medical needs.