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…
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-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…
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…
HVH Precision Analytics presented findings of its big data analysis for earlier diagnosis of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) to help clinicians treat patients sooner and allow patients to possibly enroll in clinical trials. HVH’s poster presentation, titled “Big Data Analytics for Early Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS),” took place at…
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…
Data from the open-label extension trial of Radicava (edaravone) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) demonstrated that the treatment continued to provide benefits after 48 weeks of treatment. These findings — presented by researchers from MT Pharma America at the May 18-20 European Network for the Cure…
As part of ALS Awareness Month, we’re looking at some of the research into ALS and which populations are more likely to develop the disease. Over the years, researchers have focused on the connection between firefighters and various diseases, including cancer and heart disease, but recent studies have shown that firefighters are more…
An electromyography (EMG) is one of the key tests in diagnosing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is also referred to as “needle EMG” and is normally performed alongside nerve conduction studies. Muscle movement is controlled by electrical signals passed from motor neurons (a type of nerve cell). In most cases…
Mutations in the UBQLN4 gene may contribute to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to recent research. The study, “A novel ALS-associated variant in UBQLN4 regulates motor axon morphogenesis,” was published in the journal eLife. Over the years, researchers have identified numerous genes linked to ALS, but the list…
