House passes bill to renew federal law for ALS research and care

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that would renew the ACT for ALS, a landmark federal law that supports amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research and helps people with the disease access promising experimental therapies. The ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act (H.R. 8205) will now move to…

A stem cell therapy conditionally approved in South Korea for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) will remain available in the Asian nation despite failing to meet the main goal of a late-stage clinical trial that sought to confirm its effectiveness. Developer Corestemchemon announced that Neuronata-R (lenzumestrocel) will…

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) brought its Engage Community Seminar to Hershey, Pennsylvania, on July 18, uniting individuals with neuromuscular diseases, caregivers, and medical experts for a day of education and connection. Hosted in collaboration with the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the one-day event featured a…

Of all the scenes that stay in my mind from my late husband Jeff’s time with ALS, this is among the most enduring: Jeff, wearing a Navy baseball cap and a weathered T-shirt, sitting behind the console of a rented pontoon boat as he navigated the waters of the…

Editor’s note: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Internationally, find a suicide prevention…

Last week, the winds shifted, bringing plumes of smoke from wildfires in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters and Canada across Lake Superior to Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. While our lives and homes are not at risk, unlike those in the areas burning, the smoke still affects daily life. It’s especially concerning for people…

People with a history of smoking may face a higher risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) than non-smokers, according to a large study conducted in China. While the findings align with previous research linking smoking to ALS, researchers found no consistent evidence that heavier or longer smoking exposure…

An experimental brain-computer interface that helped a man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) communicate again has earned a neuroscientist at the University of California, Davis, the 2026 Chen Institute and Science Prize for AI Accelerated Research. Sergey Stavisky, PhD, an associate professor in the university’s Department of Neurological Surgery, was…

RAG-17, an experimental RNA-targeting therapy designed to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by mutations in the SOD1 gene, was generally well tolerated and substantially lowered two disease-related biomarkers in a first-in-human Phase 1 trial involving six people. The investigational therapy also showed promise in animal studies, delaying disease onset…

The anticipated availability and subsequent approval in Canada of the first gene-targeted therapy for certain people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has transformed how doctors in the North American nation approach genetic testing for the rare neurodegenerative disease, according to a new study. Over the last five years, Canadian…