A clinical trial in Australia and Europe will test whether trimetazidine, a medication commonly used to treat heart conditions, could help improve function and quality of life for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. The trial, led by University of Queensland researcher Shyuan Ngo, PhD, and her team at the…
Before my husband, Todd, had ALS, he enjoyed cooking. He often made omelets on Saturday mornings. He was skilled with a chef’s knife and cut ingredients quickly and finely before cooking the egg to perfection. I miss eating his omelets. Although I do all the actual cooking now,…
Through analyses of blood samples from hundreds of patients, researchers have developed a highly accurate test for diagnosing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The test is based on a unique protein signature in the blood that may be able to detect ALS-related changes up to 10 years before symptoms of…
Until recently, my language skills and speech were best buddies. They were happily and symbiotically entwined, each supporting the other with comfort and ease. Language — the software system — was the one with all the good ideas, reacting to the environment in milliseconds like a gleeful toddler and formulating…
Coya Therapeutics is preparing to launch a Phase 2 clinical trial in the U.S. to test its COYA 302 as an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) treatment. The company said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration accepted its investigational new drug (IND) application after it submitted additional data the agency…
Often I do some of my deepest thinking when I’m alone in the car. I regularly drive 35 minutes to ride my horse, and I like to spend that time in silence. That’s when I think about people to contact or items on my to-do list for the week ahead.
New research is bringing mind-to-speech technology a step closer to reality for people with paralysis, including those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who lose the ability to speak. A proof-of-principle study shows that a brain-computer interface (BCI) can translate a person’s silent thoughts into spoken words and could provide…
Last Sunday, on the morning of our 22nd wedding anniversary, as I was getting my husband, Todd, out of bed, he asked if I’d heard the song “To Build a Home.” I hadn’t. “Alexa, play ‘To Build a Home‘ by the Cinematic Orchestra and Patrick Watson,” Todd said.
I know I’ve said this many times, but it’s worth repeating: One of the most important lessons ALS has taught me is to never give up. This leads me into this week’s column. It’s a story about shoes and my pursuit of the perfect pair. Spoiler alert: There’s a…
A retrospective analysis using data from two clinical studies and their extension periods showed that Radicava ORS, an oral formulation of edaravone, slows functional decline and helps adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) live longer. “This analysis provides additional data to help characterize functional outcomes and potential impact of…
