Peter Rakobowchuk
© The Canadian Press 2005
Friday, September 09, 2005

MONTREAL (CP) - Some American veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf war and soccer players in Italy appear to have been struck by Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), researchers said Friday.

The disease was the focus of a symposium in Montreal to look at the latest findings and share knowledge about ALS. There is still no cure for the devastating neuromuscular disease medically known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Dr. Angela Genge, a clinician with the Montreal Neurological Institute, said ALS often strikes men who are active.

"There have reports both out of Italy in soccer players, and more importantly, veterans from the first Gulf War in the U.S. . . people who follow these gentlemen have published a couple of major studies suggesting that, potentially, the men who fought on the front lines are at increased risk for developing ALS," she said.

Genge, who also sees ALS sufferers, admitted there are questions about the studies, but added that they're important to note in the history of the disease.

"My typical group of patients are men from 35 to 55, highly successful, otherwise healthy, typically playing football, golf, tennis or some other activity," she said in an interview.

"They are presented to me because a hand becomes a bit weak so they can't handle the golf club, or a foot become weak so they can't jog as far as they've been jogging in the last six months.

"This is the kind of person who develops this kind of disease."

Genge said that so far there is only one drug that has been proven to prolong life and only by several months.

But some new findings released at the symposium suggest individuals may be protected from ALS, contrary to established thinking.

About 3,000 Canadians are living with the disease.

Genge said that 10 per cent of the people who get ALS have a family history of the disease.

Andre Delambre, who's 59, has been living with ALS since March 2002 and he knows his days are numbered.

"It started with paralysis of my toes, my feet, my knees, and then reached my back and my arms and today it's reached my hands.

" I have difficulty using utensils. . my nights are longer and my days are shorter, he said.

Delambre, the vice-president of a Quebec production company, said he has accepted the disease and is now doing everything to get the best out of what's left of his life.

"They say the life expectancy (for people with the disease) is three to five years.

"I've already passed the three-year mark, but things are going relatively well," he added.

Delambre has to set up a foundation in Quebec to help fund research and it already collected more than $1 million.

He proudly noted that pop diva Celine Dion was part of a special concert that was held several years to help launch the foundation.