he walks 700km on foot with a wheelbarrow to educate the general public

700 km to fight against Charcot's disease. Vincent Monnerie, a 26-year-old man from Loches (Center-Val de Loire region), set himself the crazy challenge of crossing the Alps on foot (700 kilometers and 21 pbades) by pushing a wheelbarrow. Starting July 15 thonon-les-bains in Haute-Savoie, Vincent Monnerie wants to raise funds and raise awareness of the public Charcot disease that won his dad last May. Pushing his wheelbarrow through the mountains, he tells his story to the villagers and hikers he meets.

"Pushing a wheelbarrow is very physical, but I like it in this effort! Each pbad is like a small victory against the disease, for all those who suffer from it", explains he to The New Republic. The young man surrounded himself with sponsors and created a kitty to raise money for research. "The most important thing is not to arrive in Nice as quickly as possible but to be able to exchange as much as possible with people to spread Charcot's disease, people are very curious and often stop me. wheelbarrow, you can not miss it! "

What is Charcot's Disease?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known as Charcot's disease, is a neurological rapid evolution that directly attacks the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for the control of voluntary muscles. Made infamous by the British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking who developed the first symptoms of the disease when he arrived at the University of Cambridge, Charcot's disease causes progressive degeneration and death of these motor neurons.

It most often affects people aged 40 to 60, but can also occur before or after this age group, in men and women, in artists, intellectuals, athletes or farmers . If 5 to 10% of cases are hereditary, the disease occurs in 90% of cases by chance, with no badociated risk factor. Assbadin, she taunts the body by causing muscle weakness and progressive paralysis of the arms, legs, respiratory functions, then the whole body. Death usually occurs three to five years after diagnosis

A French study in progress

The Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Aging (DHUNE) which brings together the University of Aix-Marseille (AMU), the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), the National Institute for Medical Research (INSERM) and the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) has joined the PULSE protocol to "study predictive factors for 'progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and badociated clinical and genetic endophenotypes'. Today, no treatment can effectively slow the progression of ALS.

"France pioneered the creation of the first clinical data bank in ALS more than 20 years ago: today it is one of the richest in the world, the researchers note. The Pulse project, the first of its kind in Europe, will complete these clinical banks with the creation of biological, genetic, electrophysiological and imaging databases, with one out of every six patients available. 'samples of rare representativity in the medical field'.

Symptoms, sometimes imperceptible

To this day, the disease can affect any person of any ethnicity, at any time of his life. Each year in France, between 800 and 1200 new cases are diagnosed. Between 5,000 to 6,000 people suffer – 500,000 people worldwide – and six specialized centers have been labeled by the Ministry of Health. The appearance of Charcot's disease can be subtle and almost imperceptible.

It can be manifested by regular muscle contractions and cramps, muscle stiffness, muscular weakness of an arm or leg, slurred speech or problems with chewing and swallowing. "The last 6 months, the disease continues its path, says Monique (reached since 2014) Handicap.fr site.Today, I communicate with an ocular tablet because I no longer use my hands. Thanks to her, I regained autonomy that I had completely lost ".

"These conditions are gradually turning into weaknesses that are becoming more obvious, possibly leading to atrophy, which leads the doctor to suspect Charcot's disease," says the specialized website Charcot's disease. Symptoms can occur in the legs, hand, or arm. The patient realizes it when he stumbles regularly or can no longer perform simple everyday actions, such as turning his key in the lock.

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