Perspective | I’m a scientist studying brain illnesses. Now I’m a lock-in, living with one of them: Lou Gehrig’s disease.
By Rahul Desikan March 2 at 8:30 AM I cannot speak, walk or use my hands anymore. I am unable to move my limbs or vocalize a grunt. I communicate with my eyes, using my gaze on a specialized computer screen to write a letter at a time. I am unable to extend my neck or swallow. I drool incessantly, choking on my secretions several times a day. Deep breathing is a thing of the past. Even simple breathing is done with the help of a machine.
By leveraging this data and statistical tools, we have developed, we are making inroads into ALS. We have found, for instance, that the genetic basis of ALS may be polygenic, meaning that several genes work together to increase disease risk. This polygenic architecture can be further partitioned into different genetic clusters, each of which is associated with a unique molecular function.
I am hoping that my genetic variations point the way to slow this disease. Immunotherapy drugs like those used against some cancers might also be effective one day against my ALS. A colleague recently asked why I still spend my time doing ALS research. Why not watch movies and take it easy with the time I have left? This is what I said: I would stop doing research if my colleagues in the field could find treatments that slowed down my progression instead of just offering ways to keep my body alive.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hillary Clinton: 'Just Because I’m Not Running, I’m Not Going To Keep My Mouth Shut'Hillary Clinton said she 'can't imagine' any circumstance in which she wouldrun for president again in 2020 or beyond
Read more »
Stormy Daniels to Michael Cohen: ‘I’m proud of you for finally beginning to tell the truth’The adult-film star penned an open letter to President Trump’s former lawyer during his testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday. “I hope that someday soon your family and mine can both leave this nightmare behind,” she wrote.
Read more »