Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis News and Research

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Research highlights potential new treatment strategy for degenerative diseases

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered evidence of a mechanism at the heart of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related degenerative diseases. The research appears in today's edition of the journal Cell and highlights a possible new treatment strategy for the devastating disorders.

25 Sep 2015

HSCI researchers find surprising similarities between SMA and ALS

Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers studying spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have found what they term "surprising similarities" between this childhood disorder that attacks motor neurons and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

25 Sep 2015

Simple vision test can be a valuable sideline tool for concussion detection in athletes

A timed vision test that involves rapidly reading numbers off of cards can be a valuable sideline tool for detecting whether a concussion occurred while playing sports, according to a meta-analysis and systematic review led by NYU Langone Medical Center concussion specialists.

11 Sep 2015

Cortical hyperexcitability has a driving role in ALS

Cortical hyperexcitability is an intrinsic feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis symptoms in patients carrying the chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 gene hexanucleotide repeat expansion, show study findings.

9 Sep 2015

Riluzole ‘a candidate treatment’ for cerebellar ataxia

Riluzole may be an effective treatment for cerebellar ataxia, say researchers who call for further studies to confirm their findings.

9 Sep 2015

Endothelin system offers potential therapeutic target for ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disorder in which cells of the nervous system die, leading to muscle weakness that impacts breathing, movement and other physical functions.

4 Sep 2015

Researchers create method to watch activity of motor neurons in real time

When you're taking a walk around the block, your body is mostly on autopilot--you don't have to consciously think about alternating which leg you step with or which muscles it takes to lift a foot and put it back down. That's thanks to a set of cells in your spinal cord that help translate messages between your brain and your motor neurons, which control muscles.

3 Sep 2015

Two studies highlight important new discovery around most common genetic defect linked to ALS

In today's issue of Nature, two new studies funded in part by The ALS Association both highlight an important new discovery around the C9orf72 mutation, the most common genetic defect associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

27 Aug 2015

Common gene mutation may cause brain damage associated with ALS and FTD

Johns Hopkins researchers say they have discovered some of the first steps in how a very common gene mutation causes the brain damage associated with both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

27 Aug 2015

Scientists reveal how a common gene mutation in ALS and FTD disrupts normal cell function

Researchers have determined how the most common gene mutation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) disrupts normal cell function, providing insight likely to advance efforts to develop targeted therapies for these brain diseases.

27 Aug 2015

Others consider our moral traits, not memory, to be core component of our identity

We may view our memory as being essential to who we are, but new findings suggest that others consider our moral traits to be the core component of our identity. Data collected from family members of patients suffering from neurodegenerative disease showed that it was changes in moral behavior, not memory loss, that caused loved ones to say that the patient wasn't "the same person" anymore.

18 Aug 2015

Researchers report role of two gene-regulating molecules in Parkinson's disease

As Parkinson's disease progresses in patients, a puzzling dichotomy plays out in their brains. One set of neurons degenerates, while a similar population nearby is spared the same degree of damage. Why the difference? An answer to this question could clear the way for preventions and treatments for this disease, which impairs movement.

11 Aug 2015

Johns Hopkins researchers discover role of TDP-43 protein in autopsy brain cells of patients with ALS

Autopsies of nearly every patient with the lethal neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and many with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), show pathologists telltale clumps of a protein called TDP-43. Now, working with mouse and human cells, Johns Hopkins researchers report they have discovered the normal role of TDP-43 in cells and why its abnormal accumulation may cause disease.

7 Aug 2015

New fly model developed to study motor neuron degeneration

Researchers at the Babraham Institute and University of Massachusetts Medical School in the United States have developed a new model to study motor neuron degeneration and have used this to identify three genes involved in the neurodegeneration process. These findings could have relevance for understanding the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other forms of motor neuron disease (MND).

7 Aug 2015

Diaphragmatic pacing ’harmful’ in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Diaphragmatic pacing in conjunction with non-invasive ventilation is detrimental to patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and respiratory insufficiency, show findings from a randomised controlled trial.

5 Aug 2015

Gastrostomy methods equivalent in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The ProGas study results show that three methods of gastrostomy are equally good in terms of complications and survival in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

4 Aug 2015

Brain-controlled prosthesis could improve quality of life in people with spinal cord injuries

When we type or perform other precise tasks, our brains and muscles usually work together effortlessly. But when a neurological disease or spinal cord injury severs the connection between the brain and limbs, once-easy motions become difficult or impossible.

3 Aug 2015

Key differences identified among patients with ALS

Researchers on Mayo Clinic's Florida campus have identified key differences between patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) and those with the most common genetic form of ALS, a mutation in the C9orf72 gene.

21 Jul 2015

Alzheimer's Association recognizes four scientists with Lifetime Achievement Awards at AAIC 2015

The Alzheimer's Association recognizes four leading scientists for their contributions to advancing Alzheimer's disease and dementia research. The awards were presented during the opening session at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2015 in Washington, D.C.

21 Jul 2015

Gene therapy provides life-long protection to photoreceptor cells in animal model of retinitis pigmentosa

A collaboration between scientists in the UK and the USA has shown that gene therapy can give life-long protection to the light-sensitive photoreceptor cells responsible for colour vision in a mouse model of the most common inherited eye disorder.

15 Jul 2015

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis News and Research

Research highlights potential new treatment strategy for degenerative diseases

HSCI researchers find surprising similarities between SMA and ALS

Simple vision test can be a valuable sideline tool for concussion detection in athletes

Cortical hyperexcitability has a driving role in ALS

Riluzole ‘a candidate treatment’ for cerebellar ataxia

Endothelin system offers potential therapeutic target for ALS

Researchers create method to watch activity of motor neurons in real time

Two studies highlight important new discovery around most common genetic defect linked to ALS

Common gene mutation may cause brain damage associated with ALS and FTD

Scientists reveal how a common gene mutation in ALS and FTD disrupts normal cell function

Others consider our moral traits, not memory, to be core component of our identity

Researchers report role of two gene-regulating molecules in Parkinson's disease

Johns Hopkins researchers discover role of TDP-43 protein in autopsy brain cells of patients with ALS

New fly model developed to study motor neuron degeneration

Diaphragmatic pacing ’harmful’ in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Gastrostomy methods equivalent in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Brain-controlled prosthesis could improve quality of life in people with spinal cord injuries

Key differences identified among patients with ALS

Alzheimer's Association recognizes four scientists with Lifetime Achievement Awards at AAIC 2015

Gene therapy provides life-long protection to photoreceptor cells in animal model of retinitis pigmentosa

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

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