Newly identified mutations in the KIF5A gene were recently found to contribute to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the result of a large-scale collaborative study involving more than 250 researchers from several of the world’s renowned ALS research labs. John Landers, PhD, professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical…

The U.S. prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2014 was 5.0 per 100,000 people, which was unchanged from 2013, according to researchers. Men, whites, and people 60 and older continue to show the highest rates. The study, “Prevalence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis — United States, 2014,” was published in…

Prothena and Celgene are teaming up to develop treatments for a range of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The collaboration will focus on therapies that can target proteins such as tau and TDP-43 that scientists have linked to these disorders. “The programs we have chosen to collaborate…

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) show higher rates of sleep apnea that is often accompanied by nocturnal hypoventilation, according to a retrospective study. Researchers also found that a method called transcutaneous capnography is able to reliably detect nocturnal hypoventilation, or insufficient breathing, in ALS patients. The…

After eight years of research, scientists have finally discovered how TDP-43 and hnRNP A1 — two proteins that have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — work together to promote the disease. TDP-43 was found to bind to the hnRNP A1 RNA sequence and promote production of a…

The interaction between an RNA molecule and a protein is essential for the growth of axons, the portion of movement nerve cells responsible for communicating with other nerve cells, a study reports. Researchers identified the RNA molecule as 7SK and the protein as hnRNP R. The study, “hnRNP R and its…

This 2014 Roundabout U video is all about Todd Walker from Murray, Kentucky. Todd shares his ALS story, which began when he was suddenly unable to exercise like usual. At first, doctors thought Todd was suffering from depression as he had just lost his father but as his symptoms began…

Early this morning, Stephen Hawking passed away at the age of 76. While 76 doesn’t seem all that impressive with many living past 100 in this day and age — for Hawking, it was simply remarkable. Stephen Hawking was born on Jan. 8, 1942 in Oxford, England. He grew up…

Syracuse University researchers have obtained further insight into the protein UBQLN2, whose mutations have been associated with the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study, “Ubiquitin Modulates Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation of UBQLN2 via Disruption of Multivalent Interactions,” was published in the journal Molecular Cell. There are many…

The Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University and Thermo Fisher Scientific have recently partnered to accelerate the understanding of neurological disease by focusing on about 30 proteins associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other brain diseases. The collaboration is part of…