Damage to Brain Areas Crucial to Thinking, Not Motor Neurons, Seen as Root of ALS Cognitive Problems

Damage to Brain Areas Crucial to Thinking, Not Motor Neurons, Seen as Root of ALS Cognitive Problems

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with cognitive difficulties show brain damage in areas important to thinking, a finding that may explain why such patients deteriorate more rapidly. The study, “Structural explanation of poor prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the non-demented state,” published in the European Journal of Neurology, also supports…

ALS Patients with Emotion Recognition Problems May Improve with Positive Social Contact, Study Finds

Researchers in a recent amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) study found that patients had problems reading negative emotions in other people because of changed activity in brain regions associated with emotional recognition. Conversely, patients with more frequent social contacts were able to neurologically compensate. The study, “Perception of emotional facial expressions in amyotrophic…

Everything is a Miracle Quote

ALS Quote: Albert Einstein You are a miracle. Choose how you live. Albert Einstein once said, “There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Use this quote to stay motivated when the daily…

Motor Neurons’ Role in ALS

In this short film from Project ALS (a research-based non-profit organization founded by Jenifer Estes), the role motor neurons play in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is discussed. Study validates the use of social cognitive measure in ALS patients. Read more here. The computer-generated graphics explains what happens…

FDA Names Ibudilast an Orphan Drug as Possible ALS Treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated  MediciNova’s Ibudilast (MN-166) an orphan drug as a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Ibudilast is a first-in-class, orally bioavailable small molecule phosphodiesterase (PDE)-4 and -10 inhibitor and a macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) inhibitor that suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines and promotes neurotrophic factors.

Pastor Battles ALS but Still Inspires Others

In this Houston Methodist video, we get to meet Kevin Kinchen. Kevin was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) six years ago, but he hasn’t let that stop him from getting on with his life.  Nanci is a much-loved Hollywood publicist who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)…

What Is the Penn’s Comprehensive ALS Center?

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) experience a gradual loss of the ability to walk, swallow and even breathe, and there’s no cure. It’s incredibly important that patients seek specialized treatment to address the different aspects of the disease. Find out seven ways to diagnose ALS. In this…