Discovering the Benefits of Massage

My husband, Todd, and I realized that massage could be beneficial for him even before he was diagnosed with ALS. Before we knew why his left arm was weak, I would massage his bicep and forearm, which helped him to better use it. Sometime after the diagnosis, his legs began…

The French health authority ANSM has approved InFlectis BioScience’s request to launch a Phase 2 clinical trial testing its lead candidate IFB-088, in combination with riluzole, in people with bulbar-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The trial is expected to be conducted in France and Italy, and a similar request is being…

“Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book? It took me years to write, will you take a look? … If you must return it, you can send it here,  But I need a break, and I want to be a paperback writer.” A story in a London…

Urine levels of neopterin, a marker of inflammation, are linked to disease progression in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a study revealed. That means, according to researchers, that neopterin could be used as a biomarker to monitor disease status and determine whether certain treatments will be effective. The…

Most folks know me through my column, “Living Well With ALS,” and perhaps don’t know that for the past three years, I’ve also been a co-moderator of the ALS News Today Forums. I thoroughly enjoy this responsibility, and to bring a bit of levity to this online job,…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a Phase 2 clinical trial of the psychedelic ketamine, PharmaTher’s experimental treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). FDA approval was requested through an investigational new drug application (IND) submitted by the study’s principal investigator, Richard Barohn, MD, a neurologist…

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is asking people across the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) community to submit their preferences regarding what should be prioritized to accelerate ALS research. NINDS, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking contributions from ALS patients,…

AcuraStem’s experimental therapy AS-202 significantly reduced neurodegeneration and improved motor function and survival in a mouse model of aggressive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with toxic clumps of the TDP-43 protein, the company announced. Preclinical studies also confirmed the therapy’s biological activity and target engagement and suggested that…

I was struck by the wording in an advertisement in Quest magazine, a publication of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, that invited people “coping with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)” to participate in an observational study. I think of “coping” as not only dealing with something difficult, but doing so…

A decision is expected by May from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on an application seeking approval of an oral formulation of edaravone (MT-1186) — one with a similar clinical profile to Radicava — as a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The FDA is now…