After my husband, Todd, was diagnosed with ALS, we went on what we thought would be our last family vacation. We flew into Los Angeles, visited friends, and toured some sites. I took a lot of pictures — our 5-year-old daughter meeting princesses at Disneyland, our…
Sativex, a cannabis-based product, may help ease spasticity (stiff muscles) in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a German real-world study suggests. The study, “Real world experience of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the treatment of spasticity using tetrahydrocannabinol:cannabidiol (THC:CBD),” was published recently in the…
With apologies to Jimmy Page and Robert Plant: Chairway to Heaven I can no longer walk down the road Unable to take on any load Those facts cause much grievous woe…
In a study using dogs, the combination of infusing riluzole directly into the spinal cord and also taking it orally increased the concentration of the medication in the spinal cord significantly, compared to oral administration alone. The results of the study suggest that this combination therapy may increase its benefits…
Assessing the degree of atrophy, or shinkage, in facial nerves with a high-resolution imaging tool appears to provide an accurate and early diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to new research. The study, “Facial nerve atrophy in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Evaluation with fast…
Inhibition of a protein called Cdk5 in the brain increases lifespan and improves motor function in mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study reports. This evidence supports a potential role for Cdk5 in the progression of ALS and opens new avenues as a potential therapeutic target for…
My name is Michael Morale. As director of multichannel content for Bionews Services, my job is to bring engaging multimedia content to all of our rare disease communities. I would like to introduce some of the resources available to our ALS News Today forum members, as well…
A new molecular mechanism that contributes to the death of some nerve cells has been discovered by a team of scientists led by researchers at Oregon State University. The researchers found that blocking a protein called HSP90 can result in the activation of a receptor present in motor…
After we got married, Todd and I bought an adorable, craftsman-style bungalow in a Milwaukee neighborhood. I believed living in the city would give me a better understanding of the issues faced by the families I served at an inner-city ministry, where I coordinated a tutoring program. Our next-door…
Mutations in the FUS gene, one of the most common causes of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), increase the number of branches extending from the axons of motor nerve cells, so that no clear path exists for these neuronal “arms” to transmit information — in the form of electrical impulses —…
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