A multi-disciplinary team of researchers analyzed the genotype data of thousands of ALS patients, with the objective of identifying gene variants that influence survival in ALS. The genome-wide association study identified two novel loci that significantly influence patient survival. These key findings help researchers better understand the biology of the disease…
ALS Researchers Identify Gene Variants that Appear to Influence Patient Survival
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) severely burdens skeletal muscles, while eye muscles remain far less affected. Vahid M. Harandi, a doctoral student at Umea University in Sweden, and his colleagues are focusing on the specific proteins involved in both areas’ response to ALS in an effort to better understand the pathophysiology…
Over the summer and fall of 2016, 93 WALKs for ALS events will be held across Canada, organized by the Markham, Ontario-based advocacy group ALS Canada, a national organization founded in 1977 which is responsible for the ALS Canada Research Program funding peer-reviewed research grants and fostering collaboration…
Blood serum levels of progranulin, a key protein to both neuronal survival and neurodegenerative diseases, are not adequate measures of progranulin levels in the brain. As such, they cannot serve as a biomarker for diseases ranging from Alzheimer’s to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), researchers report in a study titled “Serum Levels of Progranulin…
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Stem Cell Therapy: Alternative Treatment for ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes the muscles to slowly shut down. Swiss Medica shared this video where a patient from the UK talks about how an alternative treatment with stem cell therapy has helped and improved her life with ALS.
A recent study in mice could provide the first step toward a new way of treating amylotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The research report, “Chronic administration of AMD3100 increases survival and alleviates pathology in SOD1G93A mice model of ALS,“ was published on May 26 in the Journal of Neuroinflammation. In…
New Pensacola, Florida-based aerospace company Gulf Coast Aerospace Partners is the presenting sponsor of the first annual Gulf Coast Celebrity Classic to Raise Awareness and Funds for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research. It tees off May 28 at Perdido Bay Golf Club in Perdido Key, Florida. Also…
More than $200,000 was raised for Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS) during gala dinner May 21 at the Fairmont Copley hotel, in Boston. The fundraiser aimed to support patient and family care for those affected with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Noted celebrity attendance included former WCVB-TV weatherman Dick Albert and Bachelorette & Bachelor…
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What Are Stem Cells and What Do They Do?
Scientists are constantly looking for new ways to make medicine more personalized. One way they are doing this is by researching stem cells. These researched cells are undifferentiated, which means they don’t have a specific job or function because of this they have the potential to become other kinds of…
Researchers investigating the processes of muscle degeneration and regeneration in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) gained new knowledge of the pathways involved in muscle denervation and reinnervation. Specifically, they examined how proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle stem cells are affected by ALS, and potential biomarkers for disease progression. The study, “Skeletal Muscle Remodelling…
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