Researchers have mapped the possible changes in shape of a key amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) protein that becomes mutated, a development that could lead to understanding how the mutations contribute to the disease’s progression. The knowledge could also lead to new therapeutic agents to target the mutations. The protein, angiogenin, is present…
A cardiovascular medication called Zontivity (vorapaxar) may be linked to a slight, but still increased, risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a review of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) documents on data from the drug’s clinical studies. While researchers noted that the risk of developing ALS is very…
A pregnant woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) successfully delivered her baby by cesarean section after receiving total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) without muscle relaxant, in what Chinese researchers describe as a medical first. ALS pregnancies are exceedingly rare to begin with, because the disease itself only affects two out of…
Caffeine may keep cognitive decline and dementia at bay by boosting the levels of a protective protein called NMNAT2, a new study concludes. The study, “Screening with an NMNAT2-MSD platform identifies small molecules that modulate NMNAT2 levels in cortical neurons,” appeared in the journal Scientific Reports. NMNAT2 plays…
A signaling pathway involving a protein called sonic hedgehog (Shh) is compromised in amyloid lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, found a study published in PLOS One.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect changes occurring in the brain during the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the short-term, according to a study published in the Neuroimage: Clinical.
People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are frequently in pain, yet few studies focus on this aspect of the disease, according to an analysis by researchers at Italy’s University of Turin. Their study, “Pain in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,” recently appeared in the journal The Lancet Neurology. A comprehensive overview of published data,…
Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in advanced stages who suddenly experience worsening shortness of breath and chest discomfort are likely to have Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a condition also known as broken heart syndrome. Based on their findings, South Korean researchers studying the hearts of ALS patients urge physicians to consider Takotsubo…
The ALS Association is urging Congress to pass legislation that would waive the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) five-month waiting period for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Under the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2017, people with ALS could immediately begin receiving SSDI, which in turn qualifies patients to get…
The journal Neural Regeneration Research has published a review detailing the latest findings in the use of cannabis-derived compounds to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The review, “Can cannabinoids be a potential therapeutic tool in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?,” notes that to date, the only available therapy for ALS patients is riluzole, which…
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