ALS doesn’t have a cure, but compassion helps

In the fall of 2009, when my husband, Todd, first noticed a weak left arm, he thought it was a pinched nerve. He was referred to a spine-care clinic for physical therapy. A doctor there recognized that his symptoms might be due to ALS, canceled his physical therapy, and…

ALS.Community has launched a new free online platform to help people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), their families, and caregivers connect with others, share experiences, and find practical support. Developed with input from people living with ALS, the patient-led nonprofit platform offers discussion communities, virtual events, educational…

Combining spinal fluid biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease with levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), a biomarker of nerve damage, may improve the diagnosis of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and predict their long-term outcomes, a study suggests. For example, people with ALS who test positive for the…

Scientists have been searching for a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for more than a century, and they are making faster progress than ever before in today’s collaborative research environment, according to Daragh Heitzman, MD, director of the ALS Clinic at Texas Neurology in Dallas. Heitzman, who…

Tongue exercise may help surviving nerve cells compensate for damage associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study in rats suggests. Nicole Nichols, PhD, the study’s senior author at the University of Missouri, said the findings may lead to treatments that help preserve tongue function in people with…

I’ve been living with my husband Todd’s ALS for a long time, and while the disease is always there in the back of my mind, I’ve learned to compartmentalize it. I don’t want to talk about ALS all the time, and I like having conversations beyond the topics of…

In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with mutations in the SOD1 gene, a protein called S100A6 may contribute to the buildup of toxic protein clumps by interfering with their removal, a study in mouse and cell models suggests. Researchers found increased expression of the S100a6 gene in mouse models…

Blood tests measuring levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), a biomarker of nerve damage, may help identify people who eventually develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) more than a decade in advance, according to a new study. Elevated levels of NfL — a protein that provides structural support…

It takes real courage to face our fears, especially when those fears are tied to the daily challenges of living with ALS. Simply telling someone about what scares us — and knowing they have our back — goes a long way toward building confidence. That is why this month’s…

Clene Nanomedicine has submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking accelerated approval of its experimental oral therapy CNM-Au8 for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The new drug application (NDA), submitted earlier this month, is supported mainly by clinical data suggesting that CNM-Au8…