Attempting to lower a specific protein that is higher in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), researchers discovered that the protein does not contribute to the disease as believed. Instead, it protects neurons from rampaging inflammation. The findings, published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics under the title “Genetic ablation of IP3 receptor 2…
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Whether the damage done by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also affects visual pathways, namely the macula, is a matter of debate among scientists and physicians. Researchers at the Feinberg School of Medicine investigated this, comparing the macular structure of ALS patients and examining its correlation with pulmonary function tests, and concluded that macular…
Researchers who studied noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) found that respiratory muscles may work more efficiently during NIV. They also believe their measurement technique can be useful for detecting changes in breathing patterns even in early-stage ALS patients. The research paper, “Effects of non-invasive ventilation and posture…
Scientists at the University of Southern California have developed a laboratory model of skeletal muscle, fabricated on a tiny chip molded in gelatin, derived from natural muscle protien. As a research platform tool, the mold holds the potential to aid studies on muscle development, degeneration and diseases. Future plans for gelatin chips include…
Herantis Pharma announced that a pipeline therapy known as cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) has been granted Orphan Drug Status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to speed its development and testing as a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease. Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor is a neuroprotective and…
Researchers at the University of Tokyo demonstrated that the FDA-approved anti-epileptic drug perampanel is able to prevent the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and normalize the death of motor neurons in an animal model of the disease. The findings indicate the drug may be a potential candidate for ALS treatment and…
Researchers at the University of California conducted a study on the molecular and genetic characteristics of two identical female twins, one only with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and found that environmental factors may be at the root of genetic modifications that cause the disease. The discovery may be a key to prevention…
Researchers at the University of Bari in Italy, tested an electronic nose to see if it could sniff out exhaled breath composition of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from healthy controls – with the potential of the nose someday becoming a screening and diagnostic tool for the disease. The research paper, titled “…
By screening nearly 250 factors in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Chinese researchers were able to identify a marker linked to disease severity. The team also found a protein that distinguished ALS from other neurological diseases which, if confirmed in larger studies, could act as a…
Activity seen in two of the brain’s resting state networks in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients may be a sign of more severe and rapidly progressing disease in a person. These networks, at work when a person is not focusing on a specific task, were investigated in the study, “Investigating Default Mode and…
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