Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Stephen Hawking to turn 70, defying disease

heraldonline.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 94 posts

Re: Stephen Hawking to turn 70, defying disease

#31

Post by TWSS »

What this points out to me is how little we know about ALS/MND. The majority of those diagnosed die within three years, but a handful can survive for decades.

Do bulbar onset ALS patients live longer than limb onset? What about those with familial ALS? Were patients who die sooner exposed to an environmental trigger? ALS is significantly more common among military veterans than the general public - why, and is their survival rate better or worse than civilians?

I love that Dr. Hawking has survived so long. He contributes to awareness of ALS and gives patients hope. But I sometimes wonder if it's a sadistic, unrealistic hope and if his longevity decreases the urgency of the need for research into causes and treatment of a disease that is a death sentence for the majority of those diagnosed with it.

Re: Stephen Hawking to turn 70, defying disease

#32

Post by sfaruque »

blasterford wrote: post #11
sun123 wrote: post #3

It raises the age old question again. I sometimes think how people achieve so much. May be being immobile saves his energy from distraction and helps leaves time to think about black holes.

I know it's going to be a very unpopular opinion here, but I find it hard to see the worth in thinking about black holes and other physics/astronomy questions. Is the large hadron collider really worth the money? Can someone highlight some real world advances that this sort of thing provides? eg will it make holographic TVs possible or hoverboards?

The discovery of the electron led to the electron gun that helped build the cathode ray tube which gave us television.

It's quite amazing to see how one thing leads to another.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron#Discovery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_gun

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode_ray_tube

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_television#Electroni...

Re: Stephen Hawking to turn 70, defying disease

#35

Post by ckayatek »

TWSS wrote: post #31

What this points out to me is how little we know about ALS/MND. The majority of those diagnosed die within three years, but a handful can survive for decades. Do bulbar onset ALS patients live longer than limb onset? What about those with familial ALS? Were patients who die sooner exposed to an environmental trigger? ALS is significantly more common among military veterans than the general public - why, and is their…

I can answer some of your questions. The longevity and age of onset of patients with familial ALS is partially dependent on the mutation they harbor. That being said, genetic background is an important contributor. Fortunately or unfortunately, familial ALS isn't common enough to have significant statistics on the matter. To my knowledge there is no solid proof that environmental factors play a role in ALS. I'm fairly certain some will be discovered, but to date specific factors that enhance or prevent ALS are not known. On the issue of veterans, it is thought that the enhanced physical activity may be the cause for the increased risk of ALS, though the increase is merely 2 fold and once again the statistics are poor. If I remember correctly, this increased risk was present for both combat veterans and those that didn't see any combat. Once again outcomes are identical with the civilian population.

I don't believe that his longevity decreases the urgency for research into the matter. However, compared with disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and heart disease, which combined will affect some large percentage of the population, the 1:1000 lifetime risk for ALS makes it somewhat insignificant.

Re: Stephen Hawking to turn 70, defying disease

#36

Post by gnaritas »

parfe wrote: post #14
giberson wrote: post #5

Hate to raise a cynical tone, but in all likelihood his his longevity is mostly due to him having money. I expect, that in most cases patients with similar motor neurone diseases, their money simply runs out--unable to afford ongoing medications, care and new treatments, they die from the disease they simply can't afford to treat.

>in all likelihood his his longevity is mostly due to him having money. I think you mean "Socialized Medicine" "I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS," [Hawking] said. "I have received a large amount of high-quality treatment without which I would not have survived...." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/12/stephen-hawking-ent...

Yea, you don't need money to be healthy in a civilized country. Someday, America might catch on, but I'm not holding my breath.

Re: Stephen Hawking to turn 70, defying disease

#38

Post by paulhauggis »

gnaritas wrote: post #36
parfe wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>in all likelihood his his longevity is mostly due to him having money. I think you mean "Socialized Medicine" "I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS," [Hawking] said. "I have received a large amount of high-quality treatment without which I would not have survived...." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/12/stephen-hawking-ent...

Yea, you don't need money to be healthy in a civilized country. Someday, America might catch on, but I'm not holding my breath.

"Yea, you don't need money to be healthy in a civilized country."

You just need enough other people's money.

"Someday, America might catch on, but I'm not holding my breath."

Why is it that anyone with any kind of money that needs urgent care comes to the US? I will give you a hint: it's not because of nationalized health care.

Our system isn't perfect and is expensive, but in my opinion, it's the best in the world (in terms of quality doctors, surgery, and hospitals).

Re: Stephen Hawking to turn 70, defying disease

#39

Post by teju »

I think it's a combination of top notch care and an engaged mind. Even the medical establishment is acknowledging the connection between state of the mind and health (placebo effect research).

On a lighter note, here is something the great physicist cannot fathom: http://news.yahoo.com/women-mystery-british-physicist-hawkin...

Re: Stephen Hawking to turn 70, defying disease

#40

Post by rmc »

paulhauggis wrote: post #38
gnaritas wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yea, you don't need money to be healthy in a civilized country. Someday, America might catch on, but I'm not holding my breath.

"Yea, you don't need money to be healthy in a civilized country." You just need enough other people's money. "Someday, America might catch on, but I'm not holding my breath." Why is it that anyone with any kind of money that needs urgent care comes to the US? I will give you a hint: it's not because of nationalized health care. Our system isn't perfect and is expensive, but in my opinion, it's the best in the world (…

Why is it that anyone with any kind of money that needs urgent care comes to the US?

Do they? Here in Ireland people going for specialized treatment would go to private hospitals in the UK.

Post reply on HN