Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disorder, can be challenging to diagnose because its obvious symptoms are common to other neurological conditions. A thyroid function test can help in a search for evidence of other conditions with shared symptoms and to rule out ALS, which is not associated with…
The prevalence of motor nerve diseases — including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — is on the rise worldwide, mostly because of an aging population. The disease burden is greatest in high-income countries, according to a global analysis of data from 1990 to 2016. The study, “Global, regional,…
To bring attention to the plight of teens touched by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America (MTPA) is calling for artistic submissions from young people who have a family member with the disease. Called ALSO US, the new initiative is open to U.S. teenagers and young…
Mutations in a gene linked to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), called FUS, affect the ability of motor nerve cells to repair damage to their DNA, a new study shows. These findings suggest that therapies that enhance the repair of DNA damage may be of benefit to some ALS patients.
People with multiple rare mutations in genes known to cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are significantly more likely to develop this disease at younger ages, a study in Japanese patients reports. The study, “Burden of rare variants in causative genes for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) accelerates…
Extracts of velvet bean and Indian ginseng, two plants commonly used in the Ayurvedic medicine of India, were found to ease sleep disturbances and hyperactivity in a fruit fly model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), while also rescuing locomotor function. The study, “Standardized phytotherapic extracts rescue anomalous locomotion and electrophysiological responses…
Stem cell therapy seems to be safe in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and clinical trials evaluating its effectiveness are on the way, according to a review study. The review, “Stem cell transplantation for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,” was published in the journal Current Opinion in…
Integrated care is a definite advantage of multidisciplinary clinics according to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, but many complain about travel and mobility impediments as major barriers to attend such clinics, a Canadian study reports. Many patients also look at multidisciplinary clinics as potential ALS patient advocates to inform health…
With the U.S. midterm elections now less than two weeks away, patient advocacy groups are solidly focused on a range of hot-button issues, from the Orphan Drug Tax Credit and affordable health insurance to future funding for rare disease research. Yet “whether Democrats take over the House or Senate,…
Researchers have discovered that C9orf72 — the gene whose mutated version is associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) — works by activating key proteins for the transport and degradation of molecules inside the cell, in normal conditions. This discovery expands knowledge on how C9orf72 may contribute to the…
