Early and Consistent Weight Loss Linked to Poorer Outcomes in ALS, Study Suggests

The rate of weight loss from onset to diagnosis can be a significant indicator of poorer outcomes among amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, a study reports. The study, “Early weight loss in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: outcome relevance and clinical correlates in a population-based cohort,” was published in the…

In addition to symptoms of depression, disease progression is one of the strongest influences on health-related quality of life in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, a study reports. According to the study, titled Disease progression impacts health-related quality of life in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,” slower disease progression is linked to…

“Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.” —Mark Twain, in a letter to The New York Sun I spent the better part of November under the weather. I am always taken aback by the “uncommon” havoc the “common” cold can wreak on someone with the deficit baseline…

The new year is just beginning, and my email inbox is already overflowing with suggestions about the importance of setting goals and resolutions. But for many living with ALS, traditional goals and resolutions for self-improvement can feel empty and useless. In truth, most of us are just…

When I look back at 2018, I feel pride. I fought my ALS hard. I forced myself to finish all my meals, even when I had zero appetite, to minimize weight loss. I made it to all my appointments, though I had to reschedule multiple times. I asked…