Assessing the Contents of the Toolbox While in Exile

“By the rivers of Babylon Where we sat down And there we wept When we remembered Zion But the wicked carried us away in captivity Required from us a song How can we sing King Alpha song In…

Regulus Therapeutics, in partnership with researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, has initiated studies to evaluate a library of molecules designed to suppress microRNA-155 (miR-155) — a small molecule that regulates the activity of other genes — as a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The agreement, effective…

Lately, I’ve been pondering the many ways our lives have changed for the sake of safety, like tamper-proof packaging, airport screening, and two-step password verification. I get it. Identity thieves are everywhere, so are scammers, along with the just plain crazies. We might be a little safer, but I…

Cells contain certain chaperone proteins that can break down the protein clumps found in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Huntington’s disease, but don’t always activate the right proteins at the right time, a recent study shows. “[The cells] do not always realize there is a problem, or know…

A new rapid test is under development that will be able to detect seafood and water levels of an environmental toxin called beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), the exposure to which has been implicated as a risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The efforts will be spearheaded by Brain Chemistry…

NeuroSense Therapeutics will soon begin a Phase 1 clinical trial to investigate the impact of food on PrimeC, a combo medication being developed as a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in a group of healthy volunteers. The open-label Phase 1 trial (NCT05232461) is expected to enroll…

Last Sunday, the temperature was in the high 40s, making the tracks in the cross-country ski trail smooth and fast. A gurgling brook carried away snowmelt from a long winter. Birds sang. Two chipmunks scampered up a tree, one chasing the other. Spring skiing is one of my favorite…

A novel system that involves electrodes implanted in the brain allowed a 34-year-old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who had completely lost the ability to move voluntarily — known as a “locked-in” state — to communicate with his family again. Using the system, the man was able to…

“To dream the impossible dream, To fight the unbeatable foe, … To reach the unreachable star, … This is my quest.” Vanquish ALS! Last week, my wife and I enjoyed a visit from a dear friend of ours. Interactions with him always have a quixotic effect on my psyche. Just…

Two independent teams of scientists have unraveled the molecular mechanism by which abnormal localization of the TDP-43 protein, which is characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), leads to reduced levels of another protein, called UNC13A, that is important for nerve cell function. The results also show that certain variations…