Expression of the calcium channel Cacophony in certain motor neurons restored motor defects in a fruit fly model with TDP-43 loss, a condition found in  neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia, a new study shows. The study, “Restoration of motor defects caused by loss…

Following her husband’s frustration at not being able to do up the buttons on his formal work shirts, Maura Horton came up with a simple and practical solution: magnetic buttons. MORE: Discover seven facts about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis you might find interesting.  According to a report on Fox News, Horton’s husband…

A quote on a friend’s Facebook page caught my attention recently. Reading it was a reminder of how far I’ve come in learning to live with ALS. “It is not primarily our physical selves that limit us, but rather our mindset about…

Medical marijuana is gaining popularity as a complementary medicine to help with many symptoms associated with chronic illnesses. While many people are curious about how marijuana (or cannabis) may help improve their symptoms, they are also reluctant to smoke the substance. However, there are ways that medical marijuana can be administered, including…

Speak clearly Use a fork and knife when you eat Hand-write your thank you notes The above (plus a few more) were on my mother’s list of good manners that she expected me to follow when I was a kid. They certainly helped me through the years and proved…

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) or speech-language therapists (SLTs) do much more than help people with speech problems such as stuttering or mispronouncing words. For children and adults with neuromuscular disorders like spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), muscular dystrophy (MD) and amyotrophic lateral…

This Macmillan Cancer Support video shares some tips on how to get the best out of your doctor’s appointments and hospital visits. MORE: 7 ALS Facts You Might Find Interesting Dr. Davina Deniszczyc explains that before you meet with your doctor it’s a good idea to prepare a…

It seems to me that learning to live with ALS now requires a crash course in Technology 101. Gone are the days of having to rely solely on other human beings for essential daily living needs. Today, both the ALS patient and their caregiver are receiving help…

Perceptive Devices, a company specializing in hands-free and voice-free electronic devices, is partnering with eye tracking device maker Tobii Dynavox to develop a new generation of hands-free and voice-free control technology for those with physical disabilities. Users of Tobii Dynavox products will now have the option of controlling their devices with Perceptive…

This video from WS Westwood explains the degenerative condition, Lou Gehrig’s disease. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the famous baseball player developed the condition and died from complications associated with ALS in 1941. MORE: A song inspired by ALS, “The…