PatientsLikeMe ALS contribution expands free PRO-ACT database

The data platform PatientsLikeMe (PLM) has made its de-identified amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient database available to scientists around the world to advance clinical research in the neurodegenerative disorder. Part of a collaboration between PLM and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the…

Two Tests May Be Better Than One at Predicting Survival

The two most common measures used in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) assessments — the ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) and forced vital capacity (FVC) — can predict survival more accurately when used together, according to a recent study. Alone, these measures had a similar predictive ability, but the weak…