Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

People with mutations in the C9ORF72 gene who develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) show signs of damage to certain brain regions years before the appearance of disease symptoms, a study reports. The findings suggest that looking for changes in brain structures could help predict which people with C9ORF72 mutations…

Long-term treatment with the cell therapy NurOwn (debamestrocel) was found to significantly extend survival in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) when compared with a matched control group from previous clinical trials, according to new data. That data, from an expanded access program (EAP), was shared by NurOwn’s…

Neurosense Therapeutics will meet with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Nov. 6 to discuss plans for a Phase 3 trial to test its experimental therapy PrimeC in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The company said it will give an update on results of the Type C meeting following…

Treatment with Radicava ORS (edaravone) significantly slowed declines in physical function and improved survival outcomes for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared with historical controls from the PRO-ACT database who’d received a placebo in previous clinical trials. The findings were presented by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma…

Neither memantine nor trazodone, two medications approved to treat other conditions, was able to slow disease progression in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who took part in a platform clinical trial, a study concluded. Based on the lack of benefits in the trial’s interim analysis, the two treatment…

The Scott-Morgan Foundation (SMF), a nonprofit that’s pioneering assistive technology innovation, will lead a new initiative using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to help people with diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to better communicate and maintain their sense of identity. “We live in a world where millions are…

People with higher levels of certain metals in their blood and urine are more likely to develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a U.S. study reports. Findings also suggest that, among ALS patients, higher metal levels linked with significantly poorer long-term survival. “By measuring [blood] and urine metal levels, we…

A brain-computer interface allowed Casey Harrell, a 45-year-old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) whose disease had made it nearly impossible to speak, to communicate through a computer that used his own voice. Harrell’s experience in the ongoing pilot BrainGate2 clinical trial (NCT00912041) was described in the study,…

Changes in how the SOD1 protein associates with metal molecules seem to be key for how mutations affecting this protein drive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study using a novel imaging technique. Findings represent “a very early step towards” new ALS treatments, while also showing “an exciting…

One year of treatment with the experimental oral therapy PrimeC led to improved iron accumulation in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to new clinical trial data announced by PrimeC’s developer, Neurosense Therapeutics. Previous results showed that people who received PrimeC for one year experienced significantly slower…