Most of the initial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients enrolled in Cytokinetics’ COURAGE-ALS Phase 3 trial testing its experimental therapy reldesemtiv have moderate-to-fast progressing disease at study entry. An analysis shows that, as intended, COURAGE-ALS is increasing the proportion of patients with rapidly progressing disease compared with the…

While it’s long been believed that the death of motor neurons in the spinal cord is the main cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), new research suggests that degeneration of motor neurons in the brain takes place independently and may also contribute to the disease. The study’s work in…

CNM-Au8, an investigational disease-modifying therapy for people with early amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), showed consistent clinical benefits in patients with both limb and bulbar onset disease, according to new analyses of RESCUE-ALS Phase 2 clinical trial data. In particular, the treatment significantly extended the time to disease progression —…

When Leah Stavenhagen was 27, she was living in Paris and traveling through Europe. But an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis forced her to give up her job as a consultant with Ernst & Young and dashed her dreams of continuing to work abroad. At the time, she seemed…

I spent most of my life following daily habits and routines that shaped my perspective about how life ought to be. When ALS appeared, it brought change and created imaginary roadblocks in my mind. I didn’t want things to change, to learn new habits, or to adapt to my…

Recently, a journalist and author from New York contacted me about a book he’s working on. His theme is the role that humor plays in helping people cope with a wide variety of diseases, disabilities, and physical conditions. He wanted to include my ALS-related experiences, and I gladly agreed to…

An abnormal version of tau, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease, may contribute to the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by damaging mitochondria in neurons, according to a new study. The findings suggest that decreasing tau levels might be a new therapeutic strategy to lessen mitochondrial dysfunction in…

Recent findings and ongoing efforts to more fully understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and to identify new and better ways of helping patients were discussed at the 11th Annual Les Turner Symposium on ALS. The daylong event, held virtually Nov. 1, was sponsored by the …

Once a first-round draft pick for the Atlanta Falcons, Tim Green now is battling another opponent — amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The disease has left him unable to walk, speak, eat, drink, or breathe on his own, but he hasn’t let it obscure his positive outlook on life. “I…