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More research studies with appropriate design and control are necessary to understand whether psychosocial interventions improve the quality of life and well-being of patients with neuromuscular diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), says a new study review. The review, “Do Psychosocial Interventions Improve Quality Of Life And Wellbeing…

Muscle fibers secrete and concentrate a protein called fibroblast growth factor binding protein 1 (FGFBP1) at the neuromuscular junctions, the area of contact between motor neurons and muscle fibers, according to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

The Focused Ultrasound Foundation has recognized Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada, as a Centre of Excellence for accelerating research progress through collaboration to treat diseases like those of the central nervous system, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). “With an unparalleled team of scientists and clinicians, Sunnybrook…

Researchers have developed a new approach that might help ALS patients maintain their ability to communicate as disease progresses, according to a study published in the Journal of Neural Engineering. In the research paper, “Self-Regulation Of Brain Rhythms In The Precuneus: A Novel BCI Paradigm For Patients…

Long-term use of Rilutek (riluzole) is associated with a better outcome in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, whereas short-term use seems to have little effect on survival according to a study published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

The ALS Association is awarding a $2 million grant to the ALS ONE-Massachusetts Partnership that will partially sponsor a University of Massachusetts Medical School project led by Robert H. Brown, Jr., MD, PhD, a world-renowned specialist in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The grant will help Brown and colleagues develop two gene…

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) has issued a positive opinion recommending that ibudilast (MN-166) receives orphan medicinal product (orphan drug designation) for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MediciNova is currently focusing on the development of ibudilast for neurological disorders…

A woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), who had lost nearly all capacity to communicate, is now able to successfully interact with her surroundings using a brain-computer interface implant, according to a recent article in New Scientist magazine. The device is thought to be the first used in a patient’s daily life, without the need…

Researchers in China recently evaluated the changes of ferritin levels in the brain’s cerebrospinal fluid of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). They found that ALS patients exhibited significantly increased levels of ferritin, an iron-based protein, a result that indicates ferritin has value as a biomarker and could be used for…

Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan, in collaboration with several U.S. institutions, suggest that the collapse of the mitochondria‐associated membranes (MAM) is linked to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mitochondria‐associated membranes regulate calcium levels, mitochondrial function, and cell death in the body, and have been linked to neurodegenerative…