Monkeys on Neurotoxic Diet May Be New Animal Model for ALS Research

A neurotoxic amino acid called β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) fed to vervet monkeys caused damage to the spinal cord similar to what is seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), potentially making them a much-needed new animal model for research, a study reported. Adding L-serine, a non-toxic amino acid, to their diet…

Environmental Toxin a Possible Cause of Symptoms of ALS, Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers at the Institute for EthnoMedicine and the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank have discovered that chronic exposure to an environmental toxin has the potential to increase the risk for neurodegenerative illnesses such as ALS and Alzheimer’s disease. The research paper, “Dietary exposure to an environmental toxin triggers neurofibrillary tangles and…