What you should know about ALS

Ever wondered about those viral ice bucket videos? They’re intended to raise awareness about a disease called ALS or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. What’s the connection between ALS and the ice bucket? The feeling of ice-cold water over the body is said to be similar to the numbing effect of ALS. The disease causes the progressive degeneration of the motor neurons, which control muscle movements. Once they degenerate, the motor neurons become incapable of sending impulses to the muscle fibers that result in movement. On Monday, August 25, Rappler took on the Ice Bucket Challenge.

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