Doctor shares mystery of disease with ALS patients
Martha Tropea , The Daily News
Published: Monday, April 21, 2008


It's as if Dr. Andrew Eisen has been writing the same detective novel for the past 40 years.

The pages keep evolving but Eisen is still unable to complete the final chapter.

The happy ending will have to wait.

The internationally recognized neurologist has dedicated his life to researching amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS.
With no known cause or cure, Eisen, 72, has devoted nearly half a century to unravelling the mystery of the rapidly progressive neuromuscular disease that immobilizes all voluntary muscles.

Eisen is considered by the ALS Society of B.C. as the "most knowledgeable neurologist on ALS in the world."

The professor emeritus of the University of B.C. neurology department will be in Nanaimo on Wednesday to speak with ALS patients, their families, friends and caregivers.

While there is still no effective treatment, Eisen said research continues to evolve.

"I would think in five years we may really get somewhere," Eisen said in an interview on Sunday. "I keep telling people the answer to ALS probably won't come from ALS, it'll come from something completely different, they always do."

According to the ALS Society of Canada, 80% of people with ALS die within two to five years of diagnosis -- unable to breathe or swallow. For every person diagnosed with ALS, a person with ALS dies. Between 2,500 and 3,000 Canadians live with ALS.

Though it has been called a devastating disease, Eisen says people should remain positive.

"They're shouldn't be a sense of hopelessness," he said, pointing to new research that could ease symptoms for people with the disease.

"The story with lithium is quite interesting," said Eisen. "It seems to prolong things."

Eisen will visit the ALS Society of B.C.'s support group meeting at Brechin United Church, 1998 Estevan Rd., Nanaimo, between 2-4 p.m. on Wednesday. For information on the disease, go to www.alsbc.ca, or contact the society at 800-708-3228.

MTropea@nanaimodailynews.com

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