Glutamate and Lou Gehrig's Disease

Lou Gehrig's disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a neurological disease. In ALS, high levels of glutamate in the spinal fluid cause the neurons that control the movement of muscles to die.

History

• Medical research in the 1990s demonstrated that 40 percent of the patients suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease had high levels of glutamate in their spinal fluid.

Treatment

• A drug called riluzole is the only treatment available for controlling glutamate. It blocks the production of glutamate in the brain so there is no excessive buildup.

Function

• Glutamate (glutamic acid) is the most common neurotransmitter. Glutamate is supposed to be absorbed once it has transmitted the chemical message. In ALS, glutamate is not absorbed and continues stimulating the nerve cells, which become exhausted and eventually die.

Famous Ties

• The disease is named after the baseball player Lou Gehrig, who held a number of major league records. He was afflicted by the disease for three years before he died in 1941.

Potential

• Further research has shown there are some antibiotics belonging to the penicillin group that can be used to remove excess amounts of glutamate.