Transition Bio and Voyager Therapeutics are teaming up to discover and develop new small molecules that target the abnormal accumulation of TDP-43 clumps, a hallmark feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Under the terms of the agreement, Transition Bio will lead the…
I recently listened to an episode of Oprah’s podcast featuring Emma Heming Willis, whose husband, actor Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). She wrote a book called “The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path.” FTD and ALS are closely related: About…
When my late husband, Jeff, was diagnosed with ALS in the fall of 2018, I’d heard of the disease only peripherally. Like many, I’d completed the Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014 without an inkling that someday this disease would affect someone I loved. Swept up in the momentum…
Because the global population is aging and people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are living longer, the number of people with the disease is expected to rise by about 25% across multiple nations by 2040, according to a new study. In the U.S., nearly 9,000 more people are expected…
Scientists have developed a brain-computer interface (BCI) capable of instantly translating a person’s thoughts into written Mandarin Chinese. The technology expands the reach of BCIs, devices that capture brain signals to help people communicate, beyond its traditional focus on English speakers. It opens up the potential for millions more people…
Combining two blood biomarkers may make the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) more accurate and help predict how fast the disease will progress, according to a new German study. The two markers are soluble neurofilament light chain, called sNfL — a known marker of nerve damage — and…
I’m always on the lookout for strategies that will help me make my life with ALS go a little bit smoother, and I’ve recently found a new one. It’s easy to do and, most importantly, it adds a layer of calm to my days. It might surprise you when…
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ACI-19626, an experimental compound designed to be used as a PET tracer, can selectively bind to abnormal clumps of the protein TDP-43, a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but not to normal TDP-43 protein, preclinical research showed. Based on the promising early findings, ACI-19626’s developer, AC Immune,…
SPG302, an experimental oral therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), was well tolerated in an early clinical trial, and initial findings suggest it may help slow disease progression. The new data come from a Phase 1/2a study (NCT05882695) conducted in Australia. The first parts of the study tested…
