Researchers at Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, in Florida, discovered that patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have lower levels of a factor that controls autophagy, a cell mechanism for protein removal from the brain. The study, “Transcription Factor EB Is Selectively Reduced in the Nuclear Fractions of Alzheimer’s and…
Attempting to lower a specific protein that is higher in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), researchers discovered that the protein does not contribute to the disease as believed. Instead, it protects neurons from rampaging inflammation. The findings, published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics under the title “Genetic ablation of IP3 receptor 2…
By screening nearly 250 factors in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Chinese researchers were able to identify a marker linked to disease severity. The team also found a protein that distinguished ALS from other neurological diseases which, if confirmed in larger studies, could act as a…
Activity seen in two of the brain’s resting state networks in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients may be a sign of more severe and rapidly progressing disease in a person. These networks, at work when a person is not focusing on a specific task, were investigated in the study, “Investigating Default Mode and…
Mutations in the SOD1 gene, a major copper-binding protein, are a known cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). An extensive review from Keio University in Japan explores the possible role of copper homeostasis in SOD1-linked ALS, as seen in mice studies, and highlights the need for similar studies in people.
SOD1 protein aggregates can spread in a prion-like way, rapidly causing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) when injected into the spinal cord of mice carrying a human mutated SOD1 gene. The results, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, substantially advance insights into mechanisms in hereditary ALS, and…
Researchers using a miniature microscope saw that glial cells, called astrocytes, contribute to sensory nerve transmission in the spinal cord of awake and moving animals. Offering unparalleled insights into the workings of the spinal cord, the tool may lead to new treatments for a range of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
An after-school study by two teenagers in Canada found that maple syrup protects neurons and halts the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in an animal model of the disease. While the study was intended for educational purposes, its discoveries that might be of interest to drug developers. The students, Catherine Aaron and…
AB Science recently reported positive data from an interim analysis of a Phase 2/3 study of masitinib, its lead compound to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  The company also held a web conference with leading ALS experts on April 8, followed by a report summarizing the ongoing trial. Masitinib is a…
Herantis Pharma announced that it has received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) on its application for orphan drug designation for CDNF as a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A positive opinion is the first step toward orphan drug designation which, in…
Get regular updates to your inbox.