An approved medication for heart-related chest pain reduced the frequency and severity of muscle cramps in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a small pilot study. Called ranolazine, the medication was found to be safe and generally well-tolerated — the clinical trial’s key endpoints, or goals. Gastrointestinal…

An experimental antisense oligonucleotide that works to suppress the mutant C9orf72 gene — a cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — safely lowered the production of damaging proteins and other molecules in a patient in a pilot trial. “While other teams have documented that this gene can be suppressed in cells…

Vitamin D supplementation can help overcome low levels of the vitamin often detected in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Still, such an alternative therapeutic approach has no meaningful clinical effect on progression of ALS-associated motor symptoms, a study suggests. The study, “…

Using a smartphone to collect amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients’ self-reported scores in the ALS-specific functional rating scale revised (ALSFRS-R) is feasible and shows a high correlation to scores collected at clinical sites, a small pilot study shows. The study “Design and results of a smartphone-based digital…

Using a recumbent stepper is a safe and well-tolerated way for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to do physical exercise, a pilot study suggests. The study, “Recumbent stepping aerobic exercise in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a pilot study,” was published…

H.P. Acthar Gel, an experimental injectable therapy, may help delay progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new analysis reveals. The data is scheduled to be presented at the 70th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Los Angeles, April 21–27, in a presentation titled, “Post…