Cigarette smoking may speed progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and reduce survival in patients with the disease, according to a new collaborative study from Italian universities and research institutes. The study, “Influence of cigarette smoking on ALS outcome: a population-based study” was published in The Journal of Neurology…

Most patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) develop respiratory problems in the advanced stage of their disease and are put on chronic ventilator support to improve their symptoms. Now a new study shows that despite improved respiration, the patients’ quality of life may worsen over time. The study, “Is Chronic…

Because of increasing evidence of metabolic disturbances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients, researchers at the University of Queensland tested whether ALS could be targeted at the metabolic level. Results indicate that by increasing energy sources with the triglyceride supplement triheptanoin, they could delay motor neuron loss in an animal model.

Engineers at MIT have developed a device that replicates the neuromuscular junction — the connection between motor neurons (the type of neurons that communicate and stimulate muscles, coming from the spinal cord) and muscle cells. The tool, which gives researchers access to technology in the lab that recreates how neurons stimulate muscles,…

Flex Pharma has begun a Phase 2 clinical trial assessing FLX-787 in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of the study, taking place in Australia, is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of FLX-787 in treating ALS-related leg cramps and/or spasticity. Patients with ALS — a…

Relieve Stress the Easy Way How do you relax? Relaxing the mind could be the most difficult thing to do. Has anyone ever told you to “just relax?” There’s something about those words —  relax, be calm, and calm down — that trigger a deep emotional response in most of…

Caregivers play an important role in the treatment and support of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), although that role is not always appreciated or regarded by researchers. A recent study focused on the impact of caregiving on those who take care of people with ALS, highlighting how the disease affects both patients and those…

Although cognitive impairment is common in patients with ALS, the reliability of the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test” (RMET), a measure of social cognitive function, had yet to been established. Here, researchers confirm this is a reliable and efficient measure of social cognition in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients,…

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques may detect biomarkers for early diagnosis in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a review study titled “The value of magnetic resonance imaging as a biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review,” published in BMC Neurology. Biomarkers are measurable substances, such…

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may have problems recognizing emotions in other people, even though they do not have other cognitive or behavioral problems. This inability is linked to microscopic changes in brain anatomy in regions linked to emotional processing, and resembles changes seen in patients with some types of…