Genetic mutations in two previously unrecognized genes, the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and BNIP1 genes, are associated with elevated risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study with that finding “Selective genetic overlap between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and diseases of the frontotemporal dementia spectrum,” was published in the…

Higher levels of a specialized type of immune cell may help halt the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a study in humans and mice found. These findings were reported in the journal JAMA Neurology, in the study, “Association of Regulatory T-Cell Expansion With Progression of Amyotrophic…

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that attacks motor neurons, leading to wastage of the muscles. This affects every area of the body and as the disease progresses, patients begin to experience speech impairments and will eventually lose the ability to speak. MORE: Explaining the progression of ALS…

Scientists have gained greater insight into the structure of the nucleolus, a cellular organelle that has been implicated in diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). By honing in on the molecular events surrounding ALS, scientists can start to understand how the disease develops, which could lead to new…

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the deterioration of muscles in the body, leading to loss of movement, an inability to speak and swallow, and eventually, breathe. According to medscape.com, the rate at which muscle deterioration occurs will differ from patient to…

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) or speech-language therapists (SLTs) do much more than help people with speech problems such as stuttering or mispronouncing words. For children and adults with neuromuscular disorders like spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), muscular dystrophy (MD) and amyotrophic lateral…

In this video from LA Fitness, 51-year-old surfing fanatic Chris Mehess shares his ALS story. Chris first began experiencing problems in April 2015 when he had problems staying upright on his surfboard and regularly suffered from cramping in his ankles and calves. A few months later,…

  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. But who was Lou Gehrig? Henry Louis Gehrig was born in New York on June 19, 1903, at a time when very few people were aware of ALS, the progressive and neurodegenerative disease. Gehrig grew up to…

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is sometimes known as Lou Gehrig disease after the baseball player who famously suffered from it. Although ALS is a more common disease than we would like it to be, there is still little known about it and many are unaware of the details of the condition. MORE: Find out…