Metals in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract

Several studies have reported that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease associated with destruction of motor neurons linked to environmental, lifestyle antecedent and genetic factors. The incidence and prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have been on the increase globally causing a major public health challenge. In recent years, increasing environmental exposure to heavy metals have been reported to be a global health concern. These metals are reported to induce amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through generation of oxidative stress, interference with cellular processes, induction of neuroinflammation, disrupts neurotransmitter release, genotoxicity and neurodegenerative disorder. Several studies have reported that patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have heavy metals in their biological samples. Several genes have been reported to be interfered with heavy metals causing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This book chapter highlight recent development and the impact of metals in the induction of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.