Carlos Matallanas and ALS

Some of you probably have already bought all your Christmas presents. But for those of you who are waiting for a good gift, I can show you an option.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease characterized by neuronal death. The cause is not fully known, but there is percentage that is inherited. There is not a cure right now and most people die due to respiratory failure. The disease mainly affects muscles and that's why there is stiffness and weakness.

This disease happened to a young journalist, Carlos Matallanas that one day he went to the doctor after felling some weird sensations in his tonge and his speach. He didn't suffer any shock, even knowing the end of this pathology. For this reason, he started writting a blog in which he tries to explain how he feels and how the ALS is being gradually affecting his day.


As I told you before, the cause of this disease is unknown and it is important to have some research about this topic. He decided, as a patient, to start writting a book telling all his experiences. All the benefits obtained will be given to finance a research involving the genetical analysis of the patients suffering this condition. The book cost 15 euros and it is available in Vips and El Corte Inglés.

In his blog, he also tries to make people aware of this disease by posting some informative and educational post. http://blogs.elconfidencial.com/alma-corazon-vida/mi-batalla-contra-la-ela/


He never felt tired and he never has decided to give up, for this reason I consider that as medical students we should try to contribute in discovering more and more in order to help our patients in the future.