Schizophrenia in relatives of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients is caused by shared genetic factors that increase the risk of both conditions, researchers confirmed. This prompted them to contend that scientists should view ALS as a disease of brain connections, rather than of individual brain cells. The way to treat…
Poor bone health that makes people vulnerable to fractures may be a risk factor for the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study. The research, “Association Of Fractures With The Incidence Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,” was published in the journal Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal…
An opinion piece titled “A serious and often overlooked issue for patients with brain diseases: Swallowing” by Dr. Donald Bolser, a professor at the University of Florida recently published in the independent news and views website The Conversation, highlights the importance of detecting and treating impaired swallowing in people with brain disease.
Mutations in a protein called VCP lead to problems with energy production in muscles and the onset of IBMPFD, a neurodegenerative disease similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a study reports. VCP inhibitors were seen to reverse the processes that damaged and killed muscle cells, and may be of value in ALS. The study, “…
Masitinib met its main Phase 2 and 3 clinical trial goal of improving the functioning of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, according to its maker, AB Science SA. The randomized, double-blind AB10015 (NCT02588677) trial compared the effectiveness and safety of a combination of masitinib and riluzole with a combination of…
Researchers have identified molecular mechanisms that lead to the abnormal and toxic accumulation of proteins within neurons, according to a new study. For amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, these findings may pave the way for the design of new therapies by targeting protein aggregation in the brain. The study, titled “Phase…
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be linked to genetic factors that promote cardiovascular fitness, according to a study indicating that ALS patients’ parents died of cardiovascular disease less often. But researchers underscored that it is not physical activity that increases the risk of ALS. The study, “Exploring…
A recent review highlights the importance of population-based registers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Europe, which for more than 20 years have helped scientists understand the disease’s incidence, prevalence, characterization and genetics, as well as the outcome assessment of clinical trials. The review, “The changing picture of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: lessons from…
Orangetheory Fitness and its franchises raised more than $2 million in two weeks for Augie’s Quest, a foundation dedicated to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research. Thanks to the support of its franchise owners, coaches, studio staff and more than 430,000 members across the U.S., Orangetheory Fitness was able to more…
Psychological factors and subjective experiences play a central role in the burdens felt by people who care for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study says. The study, titled “Caregivers of Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Investigating Quality of Life, Caregiver Burden, Service Engagement and Patient Survival,“ appeared in the…
