Talking Myself into a New Habit

Recently, I noticed a surprising side effect from just a few weeks of following the stay-at-home guidelines: I’ve been talking less. A whole lot less. And to be honest, on some days, my conversations were limited to “yes” and “no” answers. That worried me. Because I’ve worked hard to prevent…

A $25,000 Ionis Pharmaceuticals scholarship will help amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients in the San Diego, California, area participate in a host of integrative physical and mental wellness programs through Adapt Functional Movement Center. The full range of personalized sessions will be provided online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Designed…

Seneca Biopharma announced that work is underway to advance NSI-566, its leading stem cell treatment candidate, into a Phase 3 study in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The decision followed a meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and is supported by data collected from…

People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have significantly lower levels of a small molecule called microRNA-335-5p (miR-335-5p), which promotes the degradation of mitochondria and nerve cell death, a study shows. These findings suggest that dysregulation of miR-335-5p may contribute to neurodegeneration in ALS patients, which may be useful…

The other morning, I woke up to find a note on my husband’s wheelchair cushion: “Buttercup, please cook the sausage. Love, Todd.” He was reminding me of the bratwurst I had pulled out of the freezer a couple days before. His arms haven’t worked in years because he has ALS,…

Fasudil, approved in Japan for treating stroke patients, also is well-tolerated and prevents disease worsening in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a report of three patients who received the medicine under compassionate use. However, the effects were transient, and all three patients experienced either a decline…

“The mind ought sometimes to be diverted that it may return to better thinking.” –Phaedrus (Plato) During these surreal times that shake us to our core, a mindless diversion is welcome: Have you heard the one about the three professional killers who walked…

Mutations in the TBK1 gene — often associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — seem to have a dual role in progression of the disease, causing it to emerge earlier in animals models of ALS, but then slowing in later stages. This paradoxical role, according to a results…

I’m an avid trend-watcher and enjoy tracking how new phrases and products end up permanently woven into our daily lives. For example, only a few months ago, a mention of flattening the curve or social distancing would cause most folks to shrug their shoulders. Now, both phrases have become rallying…

By blocking the activity of the proteasome — a complex of enzymes responsible for the destruction of unnecessary or damaged proteins — dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins associated with C9ORF72 gene repeat expansions (the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) can travel between nerve cells…