Joana Fernandes, PhD,  —

Urine levels of a protein component known as p75ECD may be a valuable biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study. The research, “Urinary p75ECD: A Prognostic, Disease Progression, And Pharmacodynamics Biomarker In ALS,” was published in the journal Neurology. The National…

Poor bone health that makes people vulnerable to fractures may be a risk factor for the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study. The research, “Association Of Fractures With The Incidence Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,” was published in the journal Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal…

Mutations in a protein called VCP lead to problems with energy production in muscles and the onset of IBMPFD, a neurodegenerative disease similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a study reports. VCP inhibitors were seen to reverse the processes that damaged and killed muscle cells, and may be of value in ALS. The study, “…

Researchers have identified molecular mechanisms that lead to the abnormal and toxic accumulation of proteins within neurons, according to a new study. For amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, these findings may pave the way for the design of new therapies by targeting protein aggregation in the brain. The study, titled “Phase…

A recent review highlights the importance of population-based registers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Europe, which for more than 20 years have helped scientists understand the disease’s incidence, prevalence, characterization and genetics, as well as the outcome assessment of clinical trials. The review, “The changing picture of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: lessons from…

Psychological factors and subjective experiences play a central role in the burdens felt by people who care for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study says. The study, titled “Caregivers of Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Investigating Quality of Life, Caregiver Burden, Service Engagement and Patient Survival,“ appeared in the…

A pregnant woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) successfully delivered her baby by cesarean section after receiving total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) without muscle relaxant, in what Chinese researchers describe as a medical first. ALS pregnancies are exceedingly rare to begin with, because the disease itself only affects two out of…

Caffeine may keep cognitive decline and dementia at bay by boosting the levels of a protective protein called NMNAT2, a new study concludes. The study, “Screening with an NMNAT2-MSD platform identifies small molecules that modulate NMNAT2 levels in cortical neurons,” appeared in the journal Scientific Reports. NMNAT2 plays…

The journal Neural Regeneration Research has published a review detailing the latest findings in the use of cannabis-derived compounds to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The review, “Can cannabinoids be a potential therapeutic tool in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?,” notes that to date, the only available therapy for ALS patients is riluzole, which…

Researchers have developed a molecule called 123C4 that targets the EphA4 receptor, which is known to contribute to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a new study. The paper, “Potent and Selective Epha4 Agonists for the Treatment of ALS,” appeared in the journal Cell Chemical Biology. Its…