The non-invasive delivery of ultrasound waves in a controlled, targeted manner can be safely used to open the blood-brain barrier in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), giving temporary access to their motor cortex, results from a first-in-human trial show. The approach — called magnetic resonance guided…
MRI-guided Focused Ultrasounds Can Safely Open Brain-Blood Barrier in ALS Patients, Trial Shows
I’m always pleased to read news of advancements in health and wellness for those of us living with ALS. But one statement always makes me laugh out loud: ALS patients shouldn’t exercise because they need to save their energy. More than 10 years of published research on exercise and…
Aural, TGen Collaborate on Trial Assessing Effects of Acupuncture on Recently Diagnosed ALS Patients
Aural Analytics and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) will collaborate on a new acupuncture clinical trial to assess how the treatment affects speech in people recently diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). TGen, a nonprofit medical research institute, will sponsor…
Radicava (edaravone), an intravenous treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is now commercially available in Canada, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Canada (MTP-CA) has announced. The treatment was approved in Canada in October 2018, and has since been under the regulatory process that determines how, where, and at what…
With $300K Grant, ALS Never Surrender Foundation Launches Mobile App to Track Disease Progression
The ALS Association has awarded the nonprofit ALS Never Surrender Foundation a $300,000 grant to bring its precision point mobile technology app to patient progression research trials nationwide. Called ALS iNVOLVE/eNGAGE, the application enables the remote tracking of vitals including muscle control, dexterity, speech, breathing and…
Wartime Living Tests Marriages
Sometimes I’ll pick up a magazine in a grocery store checkout line and see a marriage article about sex or the division of household chores. I’ll sigh wistfully. Healthy people problems. In “Flying Without Wings,” Arnold Beisser describes his journey to become a psychiatrist, which was nearly impossible after…
Exercise Helps to Slow Motor Neuron Loss in ALS, Study Suggests, But Type of Activity May Be Key
Exercise appears to benefit people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by normalizing molecular changes that occur at the junction of nerves and muscles, but by degrees that depend on the type of exercise, a study in a mouse model of ALS suggests. While running and swimming both lessened the profound molecular…
“I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.” —Bob Dylan Recently, I had the pleasure of participating in the annual Southwest Florida Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraising gala, “Toast…
The Power of My ALS Role Models
Do you have an ALS role model? I do. I have a whole collection of ALS role models, and each one helps me power through my day. I’ve always believed in the importance of a role model; someone whose success or behavior sets an example for me to follow. Someone…
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has approved a new patent application that will allow MediciNova to use its investigational therapy ibudilast (MN-166) for the treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Canada. The patent covers a wide range of oral ibudilast doses in people…
Recent Posts
- New funding backs commercial readiness efforts for ALS therapy
- US lawmakers reintroduce bill to improve access to treatment for ALS
- An emotional dance performance mirrored my life with ALS
- Expanded access program for ALS drug MN-166 at 50% enrollment
- US clinical trials lack diverse representation of ALS patients