Top 10 ALS Stories of 2018

ALS News Today brought you daily coverage of important discoveries, treatment developments, clinical trials, and other events dealing with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) throughout 2018. As a reminder of what mattered most to you in 2018, here are the 10 most-read articles of last year with a brief description…

A new, more targeted rat model of swallowing problems may lead to better understanding of ways to preserve and even restore tongue function in patients with amoytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study. The study, “Hypoglossal Motor Neuron Death Via Intralingual CTB-saporin (CTB-SAP) Injections Mimic…

Researchers have developed a new small molecule that targets the most common genetic defect behind amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia, a study reports. These findings suggest that therapies directed at the underlying cause of ALS and frontotemporal dementia may be achievable in the near future. The…

Cash-strapped governments across the 28-member European Union are struggling to control runaway healthcare expenditures — at exactly the same time as the promise of new but expensive therapies to treat rare diseases has never been greater. That’s the paradox faced by pharmaceutical companies as well as patient advocacy groups in…

Sativex, a mixture of two active compounds of cannabis, may help control symptoms of spasticity (stiff muscles) in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and primary lateral sclerosis, a Phase 2 trial shows. The study “Safety and efficacy of nabiximols on spasticity symptoms in patients with motor…

Exploratory analysis of data collected in the FORTITUDE-ALS and VITALITY-ALS trials sponsored by Cytokinetics provide new insights to enhance the design of future clinical trials in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These findings were discussed at the 29th International Symposium on ALS/MND in Glasgow, Scotland, in several poster…

The majority of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) report wanting new treatments to stop their disease’s progression and so improve breathing function, muscle strength, and mobility, according to the results from a self-reported online survey of ALS patients and caregivers. These findings may help define future guidelines for the development…

Sexuality and intimacy are important aspects of one’s life that are also affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a review study. It is important that clinicians and healthcare practitioners provide suitable support to ALS patients to cover these issues, as they can also affect patients’ overall well-being and…

Treatment with the anticonvulsant Potiga (ezogabine) lessened abnormal motor neuron excitability, or responsiveness, in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to top-line results of a Phase 2 clinical trial. Findings were presented at the recent 29th International Symposium on ALS/ Motor Neurone Disease in Glasgow, Scotland, by Brian…

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with impaired swallowing show loss of taste perception, according to a new study. This problem is greater in patients requiring a feeding tube. The findings also suggested that using a device reproducing original food flavor may improve the patients’ quality of life. The study,…