My Pity Party Is Cancelled Indefinitely

“She put me through some changes, Lord, sort of like a Waring blender. Poor, poor, pitiful me. Poor, poor, pitiful me.” –Warren Zevon *** The other day while I was ruminating about the burdens that ALS imposes, a call of nature provided an intervention of…

People affected by depression before being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have a higher risk of developing cognitive impairments at later stages of the disease, a study says. The findings of the study, “Depression and risk of cognitive dysfunctions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,” were…

Stick around, because the weather will always change! That was a life lesson I learned while growing up in Iowa. Spring in Iowa often meant that one day we’d be wearing parkas, the next day T-shirts and shorts, and then back to wearing heavy parkas again. We knew…

Rare diseases affect about 30 million Americans — roughly the same number as those with type 2 diabetes. Yet only 5 percent of the estimated 7,000 rare diseases known to science have cures or treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Raising awareness of those illnesses and highlighting…

Loss of normal ion flow in the skeletal muscle may worsen symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a mouse study shows. Researchers have identified several targets that rescue iron flow, namely chloride, in skeletal muscle, highlighting their potential in developing new therapies. The study, “Elucidating the Contribution of Skeletal…

Professional soccer players may be at higher risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to the general population. The preliminary findings will be presented at the 2019 American Academy of Neurology’s (AAN) 71st Annual Meeting, May 4-10 in Philadelphia. According to the study’s data, professional players are twice…

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with higher levels of organic pollutants in their blood have reduced survival rates, according to a study conducted in Michigan. The study, “High plasma concentrations of organic pollutants negatively impact survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,” was published in the Journal…

A modified experimental version of the TDP-43 protein has revealed the underlying mechanisms that support its accumulation and the formation of toxic aggregates implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a study reports. A detailed understanding of TDP-43-mediated neurotoxicity may help researchers find new targeted…

“If we’re treading on thin ice, then we might as well dance.” That is a line from a song, “Do It,” on Jesse Winchester’s second album, “Third Down, 110 to Go.” The album’s title depicts an impossible situation. The referenced lyric prescribes a nonchalant, if not joyful,…

Loss of a protein known as ubiquilin causes defects in degradation centers called lysosomes, promoting the buildup of brain waste in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia, a fruit fly study has found. The study, “Ubiquilins regulate autophagic flux through mTOR signalling and lysosomal acidification,” was published in…