Dr. Stephen Hawking and ALS
This Gifted Scientist Battles Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Apr 15, 2007
An Introduction to ALS
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurological disorder that attacks the nerve cells or neurons in a person's central nervous system. These cells control the movement of voluntary muscles, so progression of this disease causes loss of muscle movements and eventual respiratory failure. Lou Gehrig, a famous baseball player, succumbed to the disease in 1941. The cause of ALS is unknown and although there is a new drug Riluzole which can prolong life for several months, the fatality rate is almost 100% by about ten years after onset. This is why Stephen Hawking's story is so unusual, interesting, and inspiring.
Dr. Stephen Hawking's Scientific Life
Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England. He grew up to study physics at Oxford University. Not just a great scholar, Hawking was also on the rowing team as an undergraduate. He then went on to receive his doctoral degree at Cambridge University. Since 1979, Dr. Hawking has held the position of mathematical professor at Cambridge University in their Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics department. His major areas of research include black holes and the continuance of the universe over space and time (no beginning nor end, only the changes in its form.) His books include A Brief History of Time and Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays. Dr. Hawking continues to travel and lecture to this day.
Stephen Hawking's Life with ALS
Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis when he was just twenty-one. In the early 70's, ALS began to really take its toll. Hawkings started to need help feeding himself and getting in and out of bed. He would utilize a student research assistant for these needs. In 1985, during a life-threatening bout with pneumonia, he needed to have a tracheotomy. Hawking's speech was deteriorating prior to this; afterward, speech was no longer possible. Currently Stephen Hawking uses a motorized wheelchair and a computerized voice synthesizer to speak. He is almost completely paralyzed.
Conclusion
Incredibly, Stephen Hawking has lived more than 40 years with ALS, beating the unfortuante odds. He has a loving wife, three children, and several grandchildren. Although very physically challenged, he is both mentally and emotionally extraordinary. He even jokes about the only problem with his voice synthesizer is that it gives him an American accent! Because of his tenacity, he is here today, pondering the meaning of the universe and educating new scientists. For further reference: www.hawking.org.uk, http://www.alsa.org, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking.
*****For more information on ALS, read ALS Facts.
*****For related neurological information, visit the Neurological ARTICLE INDEX and Blog.
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