Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Exercise appears to benefit people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by normalizing molecular changes that occur at the junction of nerves and muscles, but by degrees that depend on the type of exercise, a study in a mouse model of ALS suggests. While running and swimming both lessened the profound molecular…

Health professionals in Canada are more likely to recommend stretching than strength or aerobic exercises to people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a recent survey found. However, this approach isn’t supported by currently available data. The survey results were published in the journal BMC Neurology in a study titled,…

FUS protein plays a role in the proper functioning and stability of the neuromuscular junction — the site of communication between motor nerves and muscle fibers — and mutations in this protein appear to be toxic to both motor neurons and muscle cells, causing features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis…

The Phase 2 CENTAUR trial testing AMX0035 for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was designed to include patients with the most severe disease to yield the most powerful results possible, a researcher explained in a recent webinar hosted by Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, which is developing the therapy. The trial…

A Harvard Medical School professor and scientist, Sabrina Paganoni, has won the 2019 American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) Scientific Impact Award for her work in a Phase 2a trial testing fingolimod as a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Fingolimod is marketed as Gilenya (by Novartis),…

A toxin produced by algae may contribute to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by lowering the stability of a protein in the brain, a new study suggests. Titled “β-Methylamino-L-alanine substitution of serine in SOD1 suggests a direct role in ALS etiology,” the study was…

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent warning letters to three companies that sell cannabis-based products containing cannabidiol (CBD), cautioning them that making unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits of CBD could lead to legal action. The agency “urges the companies to review all claims made for…

Inhibition of a protein called Cdk5 in the brain increases lifespan and improves motor function in mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study reports. This evidence supports a potential role for Cdk5 in the progression of ALS and opens new avenues as a potential therapeutic target for…

Measuring lung function can help to predict overall disease progression in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a study suggests. “Classifying Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients by Changes in Forced Vital Capacity: A Group-Based Trajectory Analysis” was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care…

A newly developed robotic neck brace may improve quality of life for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and allow researchers a more detailed assessment of head and neck movements, as well as disease progression, for people with this condition. The brace was described in a pilot study, titled…