'Star Trek' actor Kenneth Mitchell succumbs to fatal motor neuron disease

Canadian actor Kenneth Mitchell known for roles in Star Trek and Captain Marvel on Monday passed away aged 49 due to Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS a fatal motor neuron diseaseThe disease a slow degeneration of nerves of the brain starts in midmiddle age around 50sKen battled the fatal disease which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord for five and a half years his family posted in a statement on InstagramldquoWith heavy hearts we announce the passing of Kenneth Alexander Mitchell beloved father husband brother uncle son and dear friendrdquo the post readldquoKen was widely known as an actor in many films and television shows He portrayed an Olympic hopeful an apocalypse survivor an astronaut a superherorsquos dad and four unique Star Trekkersrdquo it addedDr Ishu Goyal Associate Consultant Neurologist Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital says that no particular reason behind the disease is known yet which makes it difficult to predict who can get the diseaseldquoWhile sometimes it is genetic it does not run in families So we cannot really predict who is going to get ALSrdquo Ishu saidMuscle weakness paralysis and eventually respiratory failure are the main outcomes of ALS which predominantly affects the motor neurons that regulate voluntary muscles used for chewing talking and moving arms and legsSymptoms of ALS include muscle weakness muscle cramps and twitches fasciculations impaired motor function dysphagia or slurred speech increased muscular tone and stiffness and breathing issuesldquoPeople with ALS may eventually lose their abilities to move breathe eat and talk as the disease worsensrdquo Dr Vipul Gupta chief of Neurointervention and cochief of stroke unit Artemis Hospital Gurugram told IANSldquoInsufficient oxygen delivery to the bloodstream by the lungs is the primary cause of death for most ALS patients Breathing may become difficult or impossible with ALS This is due to the fact that it affects the muscles in our lungs and chest The diaphragm which divides your chest from your abdomen is one of these muscles Other breathing muscles affected include those between your ribsrdquo he addedA common clinical feature of the disease is its slowgrowing processldquoIt usually starts with weakness in one part of the body It may start from the hand or leg And gradually the weakness keeps on increasing and it keeps on stepwise involving the other parts of the body So the part of the body that gets affected loses its functionrdquo Ishu saidOver the years the weakness keeps on increasing making the patient wheelchairbound However the patient remains mentally normal They can think communicate normally Gradually it also affects speaking function and ultimately turns fatal as it starts affecting respiration as well as causes swallowing dysfunctionUnfortunately there is no particular cure for this disorder but there are a few drugs which slow down the process of ALS to a certain extent the doctors said It may prolong the life of the patient by a few monthsThe two drugs that are currently used are the Tarragon injections which are given monthly and Dialysol tablets which have to be taken twice daily