What Causes And Increases The Risk Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?

Viruses

Evidence suggests there could be an association between viruses and the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Scientists believe viruses could trigger this disease by manipulating a variety of dysfunctional pathways in the body. A study published in 2018 investigated a possible link between enteroviruses, including polio and coxsackievirus, and this condition. The researchers noted patients who have had polio have a higher chance of ALS, and they noted thirteen percent of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also have frontotemporal dementia. Both of these diseases share some of the same disease mechanisms, and researchers have identified enteroviruses as a known risk factor for the development of frontotemporal dementia. Therefore, they believe it is likely that this virus is correlated in some way with ALS, and additional studies are being done with the hope of obtaining conclusive evidence. An additional study showed a type of retrovirus called HERV-K, a part of everyone's DNA that is normally dormant, becomes fully active in certain patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Research is currently being done to attempt to provide stronger data on the possible link between viruses and this condition, and several other virus types are also being investigated.

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