Military Service and the Expression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Military Service and the Expression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Presenter(s)

William C. Johnson, Madison Kate Petschke

Comments

Presentation: 1:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Kennedy Union Ballroom

Description

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a neurodegenerative brain disease where the brain wrongly attacks its own motor neurons. Within 2-5 years of diagnosis, a patient with ALS will lose his/her ability to walk, speak, swallow, and even breathe on their own. This disease is very rare and there is currently no cure. This mysterious disease is caused 10% by inheritance, and 90% by other unknown causes. Some suggested causes based on instance of diagnosis might be age or sex, but the most interesting, suggested cause is history of military service. Is it because of chemical exposure, environmental factors, or the traumatic stress that soldiers endure? For our research project, we would like to further unravel the reasons behind ALS diagnosis, especially why the history of military service has a connection with the expression of ALS. We will also include an interview with Will’s roommate, whose father died from ALS in 2014.

Publication Date

4-20-2022

Project Designation

Capstone Project

Primary Advisor

John L. Lyman, Elizabeth A. Rhoads

Primary Advisor's Department

Premedical Programs

Keywords

Stander Symposium project, College of Arts and Sciences

Military Service and the Expression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

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