Nearly three years after being diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), influencer Sara Bennett has announced her own death at 39 as she succumbed to the illness.
Bennett, who shared her life on Instagram living with ALS, announced her death in her final post on Tuesday (Jan 13).
"I am not in pain. I can laugh, talk, and move. Reflecting on the last few months of my life, I am glad I didn't go suddenly, even WITH the suffering. I finished my list," she wrote.
She was diagnosed with ALS in March 2023. Bennett had detailed her struggles and how the news had turned her life upside down. "When I thought about my business, I felt like deleting the account and stepping away. But… that would just be one more thing this disease was taking from me," she wrote.
What is ALS?
For your daily dose of medical news and updates, visit: HEALTH
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spine. It causes loss of muscle control and gets worse over time. There is no cure for this fatal disease.
A French neurologist first identified the disease in 1869 and called it ALS.
Why is ALS also known as Lou Gehrig's disease?
ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The name came after the famous baseball player, Lou Gehrig. Before being diagnosed with the illness in 1939, he had an incredible career with the New York Yankees. It forced him to retire, bringing widespread attention to the rare motor neuron disease. He died years later in 1941.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms vary from person to person depending on the nerve cells affected. Generally, the symptoms start with muscle weakness that develops and gets worse over time.
*Trouble walking. Affecting the daily activities
*Tripping and falling
*Weakness in legs and feet
*Slurred speech
*Trouble swallowing
*Twitching in the arms, shoulders and tongue
*Muscle cramps
*Untimely crying, laughing or yawning
*Behavioural changes
During the initial phase, there is generally no pain.
What causes ALS?
ALS affects motor neurons. There are two groups of motor neurons. The first group extends from the brain to the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The second group extends from the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body.
According to reports, for about 10% of people with ALS, a genetic cause can be identified. For the rest, the cause is not known.
Who all are at risk?
For those 10 per cent identified with ALS, a risk gene was passed down from a family member. It is called hereditary ALS. In such cases, their children also have a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the gene.
Those above 75 years of age are also at risk of developing ALS.
Before the age of 65, men are at risk of developing ALS.
Environmental factors, including smoking and toxin exposure, trigger the illness too.