A new genetic mutation that may cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been discovered in families living in La Rioja, a region in Spain, according to a study. The gene mutation, found in 10 ALS patients from seven different families, affected the ARPP21 gene, which encodes a protein that…
Imagine you’re all alone, stranded on a remote island and surrounded by miles and miles of uncharted ocean. Here’s my question: How much time would you let pass before giving up hope of ever being rescued? One year? How about five years? Or are you an “I’ll never give up…
Io Therapeutics is planning to launch a Phase 2 trial into its investigational oral therapy IRX4204 in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The decision follows recent tests showing that the candidate treatment dampened neuroinflammation in an animal model of neuronal autoimmunity, or diseases marked by self-directed…
Kadimastem has partnered with Pluri to produce its investigational cell-based therapy AstroRx for an upcoming Phase 2a clinical trial in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Under the agreement, Pluri will manufacture AstroRx at its 47,000-square-foot cell-therapy production facility under current good manufacturing practices (GMP), a set of…
A few weeks ago, I was driving out of my neighborhood when I noticed a sheriff’s car passing me slowly, headed in the direction I’d come from. Reflexively, I made a U-turn and began following the officer, dreading the bad news that I was sure he was headed to my…
I’ve previously written about sleeping and described how bedtime is one of my most anticipated periods of the day. In this column, I’d like to go a little deeper and get some feedback from other ALS patients. Do you remember the Julia Roberts movie “Sleeping with…
Repeat infusions of naive immune B-cells were safe and delayed disease onset, reduced disease severity, and extended survival in animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a study found. The approach was also deemed safe in the treatment’s first in-human case study, in which it eased disease severity and…
“I’ve learned a lot of stuff I wish I’d known 30 years ago,” my husband, Todd, said after eating a meal of baked fish that I’d first brined, per his suggestion. Todd is paralyzed because of ALS, and he uses a noninvasive ventilator. His neck is too weak…
Losing the ability to smell with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is significantly associated with worsening cognitive function, a new study in China finds. The association was particularly evident in ALS-related functions such as language, verbal fluency, and executive function, that is, a set of mental skills that helps people…
People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who received one year of treatment with PrimeC, an experimental oral tablet from NeuroSense Therapeutics, lived significantly longer without disease complications and had a slower lung function decline than those who started treatment six months later. That’s according to the latest results…
Get regular updates to your inbox.