Showing 2680 results for "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)"

What Research Is Being Done on ALS?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is one of the world’s leading funders of research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Its goals are to better understand the cellular mechanisms which lead to the development and subsequent progression of ALS, discover more about the…

Prognosis of ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in which muscles waste away due to the death of the nerve cells that control them. The condition affects limb function and produces bulbar symptoms, such as difficulty speaking and swallowing, that originate in the brainstem. The outlook for ALS…

Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) for the Diagnosis of ALS

Physicians will generally carry out a nerve conduction study (NCS) — also called a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test — prior to ordering an electromyography (EMG) to diagnose amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Electrical signals are passed along nerve cells throughout the body to relay messages, for example, to tell a muscle…

Mindfulness May Improve Depression, Quality of Life in ALS Patients

Mindfulness-based programs may help improve anxiety and depression in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to results of a study published recently in the European Journal of Neurology. The study is titled “Meditation training for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomized clinical trial.” The journal also published…

Protein Imbalance May Contribute to ALS, British Researchers Suggest

An imbalance between production and degradation of protein in the central nervous system may contribute to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), researchers at England’s University of Sheffield suggest. Their study, “Protein Homeostasis in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Therapeutic Opportunities?,” appeared in the journal Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. It reviewed available data showing that disturbances in…

Potential ALS Therapy Based on Cancer Treatment Rituximab Shows Promise

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University (BGU) believe that an existing FDA-approved anti-cancer drug, rituximab, could be modified and used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. In lab studies with mice, the therapy restored resident immune cells of the central nervous system, which could indicate…