Analyzing single strands of hair has shown researchers that the dynamics of certain metal molecules, such as copper and zinc, in the body are altered in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The scientists hope to build on this discovery to develop a new, noninvasive diagnostic test for the neurodegenerative condition.
Through analyses of blood samples from hundreds of patients, researchers have developed a highly accurate test for diagnosing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The test is based on a unique protein signature in the blood that may be able to detect ALS-related changes up to 10 years before symptoms of…
New research is bringing mind-to-speech technology a step closer to reality for people with paralysis, including those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who lose the ability to speak. A proof-of-principle study shows that a brain-computer interface (BCI) can translate a person’s silent thoughts into spoken words and could provide…
The second edition of ALS Nexus — a conference hosted earlier this month in Dallas by the ALS Association — brought together people from across the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) community to connect with each other, celebrate recent advances, and share hope for the future. “What really…
Genetically reprogramming nerve cells to reverse aging may be a viable strategy for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a mouse study showed. Researchers found that a gene therapy made the mice’s nerve cells younger and more resilient, which delayed the onset of ALS symptoms. “Our hope is that this…
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine said they’ve solved a longstanding mystery of how mutations in the C9ORF72 gene, a common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), may lead to toxic proteins. The findings suggest a new approach that could lead to the development of targeted therapies, the researchers…
A wearable robot that detects small arm motions and helps support the shoulder can make it easier for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients to pick up and carry things, a study showed. ALS is a neurological disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and eventual paralysis. Weak limbs make many…
Measuring the electrical activity of muscles in the neck can help clinicians to identify dysfunction in certain motor neurons — the nerve cells that control voluntary movement — in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a study from researchers in China demonstrates. Similar testing is now often done using…
A coalition of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and their family members has filed a petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking the agency to review again available data for the stem cell therapy NurOwn (debamestrocel). The petitioners include ALS patients who received NurOwn in…
Nine out of 10 people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who received the experimental cell therapy NurOwn (debamestrocel) in an expanded access program (EAP) following a placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial survived for at least five years after the onset of their symptoms. That’s according to data announced by…
