Mda Research Deserves Support

Labor Day. The last weekend of summer, the last barbecue, the signal for the start of school and Jerry Lewis. For the past 35 years, the Jerry Lewis Telethon has graced every Labor Day weekend.

There will be close-ups of Jerry crying, singing and talking to families. Many viewers may recognize Jerry or the telethon, yet may not be aware of what he is raising money for.

The money raised by this high profile telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association helps fund research, wheelchairs, leg braces, diagnosis, genetic testing and counseling, support groups and follow-up medical care. It also supports a weeklong summer camp, held each August on Lake Coeur d’Alene at Camp Roger Larson. This year 77 kids attended.

The Inland Northwest’s MDA chapter serves nearly 950 families affected by neuromuscular diseases.

Muscular dystrophy is one of the most commonly known of the 42 neuromuscular diseases covered by MDA. There are many different forms of muscular dystrophy such as myotonic, Duchenne, Becker, limb-girdle and congenital. In general, muscular dystrophy is the degeneration and weakening of muscles.

One form of muscular dystrophy is Duchenne, which is inherited. The early signs of Duchenne muscular dystrophy include frequent falling and difficulty getting up from a sitting or lying position. Physical therapy and orthopedic devices can prolong the ability to walk, but usually a wheelchair is needed by age 12. As the muscles continue to weaken during the early teens, other parts of the body begin to fail.

Breathing becomes affected during the later stages, leading to respiratory infections.

Severe respiratory and heart problems mark the disease’s final stages, usually in a child’s teens or early 20s.

Another form of neuromuscular disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ALS (or Lou Gehrig’s disease) is caused by the dying of the muscle-controlling nerve cells known as motor neuron.

This causes paralysis and ultimately death. The book “Tuesday’s with Morrie” depicted the slow degeneration of a brilliant, enthusiastic college professor as the disease ravaged his body. A small number of cases of ALS are genetically caused. But for the majority of people with ALS, the exact cause for the demise of motor neurons is unknown.

Researchers continue to search for answers.

Research has identified that people with Lou Gehrig’s disease may not have enough of a certain natural nervous system chemical. Researchers are testing various drugs to protect the motor neurons.

In 1986, MDA-funded researchers identified the gene that, when defective, is responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Researchers are currently testing gene therapy as a possible cure. These discoveries would not be possible without funding. MDA is fortunate to have a spokesperson like Jerry Lewis to make the public aware and to solicit funds for research. But there are many other diseases just as debilitating and tragic that don’t receive the same media coverage or research funding. Research of those diseases need support as well.

Ample government funding for medical research should be afforded to all debilitating, life threatening diseases.