London: Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking died early on Wednesday after complications due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease. He was 76. The iconic Briton was best known for his ground-breaking work on black holes and relativity. He was the author of several popular science books, including “A Brief History of Time”.
“We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years,” a BBC report quoted his children, Lucy, Robert and Tim, as saying. “He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world. He once said, ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him forever,” his children said. Read: Science's brightest star Stephen Hawking passes away aged 76
Hawking was just 21 years old when he was diagnosed with the debilitating motor neuron disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 1963. Doctors expected him to live for only two more years because 80 per cent of people with ALS die within five years of diagnosis. But he survived for decades, perhaps longer than any other patient with the disease in medical history leaving scientists baffled. The researchers aren't exactly clear what was the reason behind his long life, but they believe it could be due to either his genetic makeup or early diagnosis. Hawking used a wheelchair to move around and a sophisticated computer system to speak for much of his time as a public figure.
ALS is a group of rare neurological diseases that mainly involve the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement. It is a progressive disease, meaning the symptoms get worse over time and limits a person's ability to eat, breath, talk, and walk independently.
The initial symptoms of ALS can be quite varied in different people. However, early signs and symptoms of ALS usually include slurred speech, muscle weakness, tripping, dropping things, abnormal fatigue of the arms and/or legs, difficulty chewing or swallowing, uncontrollable periods of laughing or crying.
ALS is a common neuromuscular disease worldwide, affecting people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. But men are slightly more likely to suffer from ALS than women. Generally, patients diagnosed with the disease are most commonly between 55 and 75 years old.
Scientists do not know what causes ALS, rather, they aren't sure yet why the condition strikes some people and not others. However, evidence from scientific studies suggests that both genetics and environment play a role in the development of ALS.
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for ALS and no effective treatment to halt, or reverse the progression of the disease, although there are medications and therapy to help slow the symptoms and reduce discomforts. And most people with the disease die from respiratory failure (usually within 3 to 5 years from when the symptoms first appear) according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.