New ALS Classification System Needed for Better Care and Research, Scientists Argue

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) would benefit from a new classification system, according to a group of researchers who highlighted the shortcomings of current systems for diagnosing the disease and allocating patients to subtypes of the condition. The opinion article, “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: moving towards a new classification…

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who have progressed to a stage in which they’ve lost all voluntary movements, including the ability to communicate, have damage in numerous brain regions and isn’t limited to motor neurons. The study, “Clinicopathological characteristics of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis resulting in…

In the summer of 2014, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge became a major Internet sensation as both entertainment and as a way of raising money to fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Like any good viral story, the challenge quickly spread all over the world. You’ve heard of the challenge, but…

Researchers have identified a factor that prevents SOD1 — a protein causing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a proportion of patients — from misfolding. The finding may advance the development of new drug therapies to stop or slow progression of the disease. The study, “Endogenous macrophage migration inhibitory factor reduces the…

The presence of a certain type of proteins of the immune system in the blood may serve as a reliable biomarker for the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as the severity of the disease, according to a new study conducted by Japanese and American researchers. The study,…

Simple Reflexology Techniques Reflexology is an ancient practice passed down through the ages. Proof of the practice may date back to pre-dynastic China 3000 BC. The Incas and Native Americans may have introduced reflexology to South and North America. What is reflexology? It is a homeopathic massage technique designed to relieve pain. Reflexology…

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin will head to Latin America to investigate whether the probability of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is reduced in people with mixed ancestry. This new project will examine the hypothesis that mixed ancestral backgrounds might protect a person from developing ALS. Researchers will set up new…

Researchers report that evaluating a person’s control of tongue movement during speech can help to diagnose bulbar disease, especially in its early stages, in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS affects motor neurons in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. If patients show alterations in speech or swallowing abilities they are…

AB Science recently announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted a conditional marketing authorization application for the tyrosine kinase inhibitor masitinib to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). AB Science develops protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs), a class of targeted proteins that are key for signaling pathways within cells. It has been shown that blocking…

ALS patients are able to make self-determined decisions about their everyday life and their medical care, despite having moderate cognitive or behavioral impairment, suggests a study published in the scientific journal Neurology.