New ALS Gene Variants Identified, Many in People with Sporadic Disease

Researchers have identified several new variants in genes associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), many in patients with no history of the disease in their family. The study, “Rare Variants In Neurodegeneration Associated Genes Revealed By Targeted Panel Sequencing In A German ALS Cohort,” was published in the journal Frontiers…

Mutations in a gene called SOD1 lead to the development of cellular anomalies associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a new study using animal models of the disease. Such anomalies included deficient regulation of amino acid levels, which are crucial for protein production and cell activity, but could…

ALS is a disease that progressively shuts down your muscles by attacking certain cells in the brain and spinal cord needed to keep our muscles moving. Eventually, patients will lose their mobility, have trouble moving, walking, swallowing and even breathing. There is no known cure for ALS and the treatments available…

Repeated head injury can cause brain inflammation that triggers the development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy — a condition that has been linked to several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study, “Microglial neuroinflammation contributes to tau accumulation in chronic traumatic encephalopathy,” was published in the…

A report in the journal Experimental Neurobiology reviewed the role of astrocytes (cells that support and protect neurons) and microglia (immune system cells in the brain) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The authors, from the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System; the Department of Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine;…

Smoking contributes to disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and decreases patient survival by about two years regardless of age, gender, or other disease modifiers such as respiratory function, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and ALS-associated gene mutations, according to new research. These findings suggest that neurologists should advise…

Advanced neuroimaging techniques and neuropsychological evaluations of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) recently confirmed the existence of a unique micro-structural brain degeneration pattern that contributes to memory loss, according to a study conducted by an international research team that included a group from Baylor College of Medicine. The report, “…

https://vimeo.com/147387124 The Cure for MND Foundation visited the 2015 RipCurl Pro Bells Beach in Australia and chatted with some of the world’s top surfers about the best waves, worst wipeouts and motor neuron disease. Find out more about a group of ladies who shot a naked calendar for ALS…

Nutritious Sweet Potatoes Do you enjoy sweet potatoes? Did you know they’re a super food that contain many nutritional benefits? The World’s Healthiest Foods, list numerous benefits of incorporating sweet potatoes into your diet. Some of these health benefits include increasing your antioxidant intake, consuming more anti-inflammatory…

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may be associated with better function, including respiratory, in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a new study. The study, “Association Between Dietary Intake and Function in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis”, was published in the journal JAMA Neurology. “There is growing interest in…