Abnormal cortical brain integration of somatosensory afferents in ALS

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative condition characterized by the loss of motor neurons at cortical, brainstem and spinal levels (Kiernan et al., 2011). ALS is widely considered as a pure motor degeneration; sensory impairment is not a recognised feature of ALS or regarded as secondary to motor impairment (Fincham and Van Allen, 1964; Feller et al., 1966; Schulte-Mattler et al., 1999). However, in addition to the 10 % patients describing frank paraesthesia and neuropathic pain, sensory impairments have been reported in up to 60 % patients, including abnormal vibration, cutaneous and heat thresholds.

http://ift.tt/2BqL0Tf