Immune Response at the Root of Motor Neurons’ Death in ALS, Mouse Study Shows

An immune response triggered by T-cells contributed to the elimination of motor neurons in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a study shows. The study, “Cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes expressing ALS-causing SOD1 mutant selectively trigger death of spinal motoneurons,” was published in PNAS. ALS is…

SIRION Biotech and Denali Therapeutics have signed a new licensing agreement to develop a new generation of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, harmless viruses used as vehicles to deliver gene therapies, to allow therapies to reach into the central nervous system (CNS) of people  with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The…

An upcoming webinar will focus on the novel approach to clinical trial design in the Modifying Immune Response and Outcomes in ALS (MIROCALS) trial, which aims to break the current impasse in therapy development for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). During the webinar, P. Nigel Leigh, a motor neuron disease…

Tau and FUS proteins may contribute to a cellular process common to both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and dementia, a rare case suggests. The case was reported in a study, “Combined FUS+ Basophilic Inclusion Body Disease and Atypical Tauopathy Presenting with an ALS/MND‐plus Phenotype,” published…

“It takes a village to raise a child.” That African proverb is a testimony to the primary, secondary, and even cameo influences that factor into the sustaining, nurturing, and ennobling of a human from infancy until independent adulthood. When done properly, a gradual lessening…

MediciNova’s  investigational therapy ibudilast (MN-166) combined with Rilutek (riluzole), for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases, has been given final approval — a notice of allowance stating that its request for a patent is being considered by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Receiving a notice of allowance is the final…

Just mention the term self-care in any conversation and you’ll soon have many different definitions. It can be medical, describing how patients with a chronic disease are taught to self-manage their illness. Or self-care can mean the pursuit of personal wellness and a healthy lifestyle. And we’ve all…

Swim training improves muscle strength and energy metabolism in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study, “Swim Training Modulates Mouse Skeletal Muscle Energy Metabolism and Ameliorates Reduction in Grip Strength in a Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,” was published in the International Journal…

The majority of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are excluded from participating in clinical trials, a large study has revealed. This finding raises questions on the extrapolation of trial results for this patient population. The researchers also stressed the need for individualized risk-based criterion to balance the gains in…

Harvard neuroscientists have discovered how the TDP-43 protein — previously linked to sporadic and inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases — reduces the levels of a second player, called stathmin2 (STMN2) — which is necessary for neuron growth and regeneration — making the STMN2 gene a potential new therapeutic target. The study, “…