Rare gene mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) will be increasingly identified with large-scale, international studies, findings from Project MinE suggest. The study, “Project MinE: study design and pilot analyses of a large-scale whole-genome sequencing study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,” was published in the European…
Global Project MinE Aims to Identify Rare Gene Variants in ALS
NurOwn, an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) treatment candidate, will not be made available under the new Right to Try Act at this time due to a lack of funding alternatives for patients, BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics announced in a press release. The company said it reached this decision after carefully evaluating the Right to…
ProMIS Neurosciences announced that it is moving toward selecting antibodies — from the many identified in earlier work — that specifically target the toxic proteins that accumulate in the brains of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s patients, and that may work as therapies. Specifically for ALS, the identified antibodies target TDP43…
Determining genetic profiles from patients’ blood samples can provide a broad view of the biological processes involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, this information may not add valuable diagnostic information because it can’t accurately discriminate ALS cases from conditions that mimic the disease, according to researchers. Their study,…
Having ALS is certainly no laughing matter, but I’ve found that living with it can give rise to many humorous moments. Most of my “laugh out loud” episodes are the result of misunderstood conversations, encounters with Murphy’s Law, or while attempting to open “tamper-proof” pill bottles. I’ll…
The noninvasive detection of changes in the blood specific to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may improve the diagnosis of the disease, according to researchers. Their study, “Initial Identification of a Blood-Based Chromosome Conformation Signature for Aiding in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,” appeared in the journal…
A recent study highlights a previously unknown function of the TDP-43 protein in nerve cells that may contribute to the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The finding adds a new layer of knowledge that could help to better understand the mechanisms involved in ALS development and progression. TDP-43 protein…
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has awarded Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals $3.4 million to continue to develop and advance potential therapies to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This NINDS grant is the second given to Aquinnah to help support its novel approach for the treatment of…
Online health forums offers patients with chronic diseases a way to share experiences and develop connections with others in a similar situation — gaining access to a community that can provide both empathy and support, a study shows. How empathy might develop in online exchanges was the focus of the…
Columns
Keeping the Faith
ALS has been a blessing to me. You read that right — a blessing. Oh, it has been many other things: ordeal, handicap, curse, millstone, scene-stealer, tormentor, humiliator, predator, interloper, income garnisher, bully, danger, satirist, infidel, and terrorist. It strives, ultimately, to be my terminator. But, if not for ALS,…
Recent Posts
- A dream takes me back to a time before life with ALS
- ALS ONE joining ALS Network to strengthen research, services
- Rollator revamp needed because design matters for living well with ALS
- Study probes high ALS risk in elite athletes and other ‘champions’
- First ALS patient dosed in study of experimental gene therapy VTx-002