A vitamin D activator molecule known as CYP27B1 is a biomarker of muscle alterations in patients with amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and may be a marker of clinical progression of the disease, according to new research. The findings, “The Vitamin D Activator, CYP27B1, is a Novel…

Radicava (edaravone) may prevent functional deterioration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, results from a literature review suggest. Findings from the review, “Safety and Efficacy of Edaravone in Delaying Functional Decline in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Meta-Analysis,” were presented in a poster session at the…

The ALS Association has launched a financial aid program, called The Jane Calmes ALS Scholarship Fund, to help students whose lives are affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pursue a college degree or vocational certificate. The scholarship program will award $5,000 a year to at least 30 students whose…

Masitinib, the lead experimental medicine being developed by AB Science, can modulate the activity of different cell types known to be involved in inflammation and nerve degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to results from a preclinical study. The findings were discussed in a presentation, titled “Post-paralysis treatment with…

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) taken from the bone marrow of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) show an ability to control inflammation much like that seen in healthy people, but they respond differently and can be influenced by nearby pro-inflammatory molecules called cytokines, a…

A specific type of genetic alteration — known as epigenetic changes — observed in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may lead to novel treatments and diagnostic tools, according to a review study. The study, “Epigenetics in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a role for histone post-translational modifications…

Scientists created a new prognosis model to predict the risk of respiratory insufficiency or death within six months of follow-up in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study, “Development of a prognostic model of respiratory insufficiency or death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,” was published in the…

On June 21, bicyclists will set out to make a three-day, 270-mile journey to raise funds for the ALS Therapy Development Institute. The Tri-State Trek expedition begins at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and ends in Greenwich, Connecticut. Proceeds go to the institute to advance its research into…

Newly diagnosed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients often experience poor sleep quality due to symptoms of depression and difficulty turning in bed, a patient survey shows. The study, “Poor Sleep Quality in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis at the Time of Diagnosis,” was published in the Journal…