Although cognitive impairment is common in patients with ALS, the reliability of the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test” (RMET), a measure of social cognitive function, had yet to been established. Here, researchers confirm this is a reliable and efficient measure of social cognition in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients,…
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques may detect biomarkers for early diagnosis in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a review study titled “The value of magnetic resonance imaging as a biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review,” published in BMC Neurology. Biomarkers are measurable substances, such…
Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may have problems recognizing emotions in other people, even though they do not have other cognitive or behavioral problems. This inability is linked to microscopic changes in brain anatomy in regions linked to emotional processing, and resembles changes seen in patients with some types of…
Stephen Hawking Quote about ALS Stephen Hawking is likely the most well-known theoretical physicist. He is also likely the most well-known person living with ALS. Hawking has a rare slow-progressing form of ALS that has gradually left him paralyzed. He communicates using a single cheek muscle attached to a…
A new study led by researchers with the United Nations (UN) has projected that the number of cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) will increase by 69% over the next 25 years, primarily due to population ageing. According to the study “Projected increase in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis…
Astroglial cells in the brain were seen to contribute to the death of neurons by promoting inflammation in an in vitro laboratory model of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Astrocytes are brain cells that are usually known for their protective role toward neurons in conditions such as stroke and spinal cord injury. But…
The U.S. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma’s new drug application (NDA) for edaravone as a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A decision regarding the intravenous treatment is expected by June 16, 2017, based on the U.S. Prescription Drug User Fee Act. If it is…
University of Miami researchers found high concentrations of toxins associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in the fins and muscles of 10 different shark species, some of them threatened by extinction due to overfishing. Such findings suggest that restriction of shark meat and fins consumption may have important…
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have made an important breakthrough in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research, identifying an enzyme that plays a key role in the demise of nerve cells in ALS patients and paving the way for research in new therapies. Their discovery has already set in motion the…
Cytokinetics recently announced that patient enrollment for its VITALITY-ALS clinical trial is now complete. The study, designed to assess the effects of tirasemtiv, a novel skeletal muscle activator, on respiratory function in ALS patients has enrolled over 700 people at 81 centers in 11 countries. VITALITY-ALS (NCT02496767) is an international, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial in…
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