Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the death of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. ALS causes muscle stiffness, twitching, and weakness in its early stages. As the disease progresses, patients have difficulty speaking, swallowing, and breathing, in addition to body…
A diet monitoring app can help amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients to manage their calorie intake in order to maintain or even improve their weight, and achieve better outcomes, results from a clinical trial show. The trial also found that nutritional counseling by a registered dietitian, with or without support…
The enzyme superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) forms clumps inside the cells of some people with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), making them more vulnerable to DNA damage — which may contribute to the neurodegeneration that marks the disease, an early study suggests. In other patients, SOD1 is transported…
People with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) related to the gene VAPB — known as ALS type 8 — can show subtle cognitive deficits and obvious behavioral changes, which may lead to clinically significant depression and anxiety, a Brazilian study shows. This data supports prior studies…
Using antibiotics may increase the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with a higher number of prescriptions linked to greater risk, a nationwide study in Sweden suggests. However, the researchers caution that more studies are needed to prove a direct,…
Only a minority of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients are concerned about a possible negative impact of genetic testing on their well-being and that of their family, according to the results of a small survey in the Chicago area. The survey’s findings, presented in a poster session at the…
Making digital art can be beneficial for the psychological health of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a proof-of-concept study showed. The findings, “BRIDGE: Dynamic Imagery and Art Therapy in ALS- A Clinical Study to Improve Patient Expression and Wellness,” were presented in a poster session at…
A cancer therapy called imatinib mesylate (sold under the brand name Gleevec) has the potential to slow progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and extend survival, research in mice shows. The findings, “Cancer Drug Repurposing for Treating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS),” were presented at the 2019…
Biogen’s investigational therapy tofersen can significantly reduce toxic levels of SOD1 protein and may slow disability progression in people with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by SOD1 mutations, interim study results show. The positive data from a Phase 1/2 clinical trial support advancing the experimental compound into Phase 3 studies…
Accumulation of TDP-43 protein is known to drive neurodegeneration associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Now, researchers have found that targeting the structure of TDP-43 and blocking its normal activity can halt the death of nerve cells linked to TDP-43 accumulation in ALS and FTD models. The…
