TopicThe Ice Bucket Challenge has taken the Internet by storm. People threw buckets of ice over their heads in the name of curing ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but not many people who participated in the challenge actually knew what it was. ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease is a disease that causes the slow, steady destruction of motor neurons, responsible for sending messages to the muscles. “The term 'Lou Gehrig's disease' is named after the famous American baseball player who developed ALS in 1939 at the age of 36” (Lewis). ALS essentially causes the destruction of the neurons responsible for sending signals to the body. It is mostly found in people aged between 40 and 60. The number of people affected by ALS is very small. “In the United States, 20,000 to 30,000 people have the disease, and approximately 5,000 people are diagnosed with it each year” (Lewis). There are many different variations of the disease, so it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of it. One form of the disease was found to be caused by a mutation of the SOD1 enzyme. SOD1 is “an enzyme that destroys superoxide. Superoxide is a highly reactive form of oxygen. For ALS, 20% of the total patient population has mutations in the SOD1-type copper/zinc superoxide dismutase gene. SOD1 normally breaks down free radicals, but mutant SOD1 is unable to perform this function” (ALS Association). Research suggests that the SOD1 protein may become toxic due to the mutation. Another is a genetic abnormality. The first symptoms of ALS begin with weakness, stiffness and/or twitching in a certain area of ​​the muscles. Other symptoms include slurred speech, nasal speech, difficulty chewing and swallowing, and general decreased control of movement. As time goes by, ... middle of paper ... symptoms of when they get the disease and what causes it. There are many different types of ALS, so a cure can only solve one type of disease. Another question I have is: What are some hypotheses about the causes of ALS? Since there is no known cure or cause for ALS, it would be interesting to see theories about what might cause it. I could also use this research and compare it to see if my father did any of these things. Finally, I want to know why ALS is such a small disease. Not many people have it or understand it, so I want to know why. What genetic defects can cause it? Works Cited Lewis, Tanya. "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Facts and Symptoms of Lou Gehrig's Disease." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, January 5, 2015. Web. September 29, 2015. Perrin, Steve. “ALS Awareness Month: 10 Things You Should Know About ALS.”BIOtechNow. May 24, 2012. Web. September 30. 2015.