News

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh discovered that the human neuromuscular junction (NMJ) — a cell connection between neurons and muscle that enables motion — is different in size and structure than other mammals, including mice, which are routinely used in research. “Our findings provide unique insights into the…

Arizona State University will soon launch a new biomanufacturing platform to grow human neurons in vitro to develop and test new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The effort includes the development of several types of neurons on a large scale to test…

A defense mechanism that uses a protein linked to ALS could be part of the reason why humans live longer than other animals, a study suggests. The research, “Oxidation of SQSTM1/p62 mediates the link between redox state and protein homeostasis,” appeared in Nature Communications. Autophagy is…

An international team has learned how the body activates a protein responsible for limiting muscle growth, a finding that could lead to therapies to improve ALS patients’ muscle function. The protein, called GDF8 or myostatin, determines both the number of muscle fibers the body produces and the fibers’ size. Researchers’…

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients experiencing feelings of apathy reported lower quality of life (QoL), particularly regarding achievements in life and community connectedness, a new Australian study reports. The research, “Apathy and its impact on patient outcome in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,” appeared in the Journal of…

A cell transport mechanism called endocytosis may be flawed in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a study reports. The flaw may contribute to the buildup of protein clumps in muscle-controlling motor nerve cells, a hallmark of ALS. In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, a University of…

A naturally occurring enzyme improves ALS symptoms in mice and could lead to effective therapies in humans, a study suggests. The research, “Deletion of NAMPT in Projection Neurons of Adult Mice Leads to Motor Dysfunction, Neurodegeneration, and Death,” appeared in the journal Cell Reports. Data from…

When discussing potential Radicava (edaravone) treatment with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, physicians need to take great care in presenting facts in an ethical and scientifically sound manner, warn two researchers who believe that mainstream reports of the treatment may be misleading. The duo — Crystal Yeo, MD, PhD,…

A new model for predicting ALS patients’ survival looks promising, University of Michigan researchers report. In fact, it want a competition for models that can forecast survival. A combination of patients’ ability to walk, breathe and eat, plus their scores on a physical functioning scale and a lung function measure…

A traffic jam inside nerve cells is a feature of most forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, a study shows. It suggests that easing the jam is a potential strategy for treating ALS. Therapies to do this are moving into clinical trials, the researchers said. The study, “…