Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis News

December 23, 2024

Top Headlines

Two Proteins Identified as Potential Targets to Improve ALS Symptoms

Aug. 22, 2024 — Scientists have found that the protein histone H1.2 and the enzyme PARP1 could be potential therapeutic targets to decrease neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ...

New Brain-Computer Interface Allows Man With ALS to 'Speak' Again

Aug. 14, 2024 — A new brain-computer interface translates brain signals into speech with up to 97 percent accuracy. Researchers implanted sensors in the brain of a man with severely impaired speech due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The man was able to ...

Imaging Technique Uncovers Protein Abnormality in Motor Neurone Disease

Aug. 8, 2024 — Researchers have used a new technique to identify pathological abnormalities associated with motor neurone ...

Recreational Activities Such as Golfing, Gardening May Be Associated With Increased ALS Risk Among Men

Mar. 13, 2024 — Participation in recreational activities -- including golfing, gardening or yard work, woodworking and hunting -- may be associated with an increase in a person's risk for developing ALS. Researchers ...

Latest Headlines

updated 10:20pm EST

Key Pathway Leading to Neurodegeneration in Early Stages of ALS Identified

Nov. 8, 2024 — Researchers identify a key pathway leading to neurodegeneration in early stages of ALS, hinting at the potential for short-circuiting the progression of the fatal disease if diagnosed ...

New Immune Cell Therapy Benefits Laboratory Models of ALS and Has Some Positive Results in an Individual With the Disease

July 10, 2024 — The study provides the basis for a phase I clinical trial in additional ...

Integrity of Blood-Brain Barrier Depends on Protein That Is Altered in Some Neurodegenerative Diseases

Mar. 13, 2024 — Defects in the blood vessel network of the central nervous system have been linked to early symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases such as ...

Cracking the Code of Neurodegeneration: New Model Identifies Potential Therapeutic Target

Feb. 22, 2024 — Scientists have developed an innovative neural cell culture model, shedding light on the intricate mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. Their ...

Pharmacological Inhibitor Protects Nerve Cells in ALS Disease

Feb. 8, 2024 — A new pharmacological inhibitor can intervene in a central cell death mechanism that is responsible for the death of motor neurons and hence important for the progression of the motor neuron disease ...

ALS: Blocking Inflammation to Reduce Symptoms

Jan. 10, 2024 — In people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), changes in neurons appear to activate immune cells. Lowering the inflammation could reduce the symptoms of the disease, according to a new ...

A Molecular Anchor

Jan. 4, 2024 — Scientists identify ALS-linked protein VAP as a key stabilizer of mitochondria near dendritic spines to support memory formation. This finding opens new directions for research into cognitive and ...

This Is How Protein Aggregates Can Trigger Neurodegenerative Diseases

Dec. 4, 2023 — Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the deposition of clumped proteins in the brain and progressive neuronal cell death. Although the causal link between protein aggregates and ...

New Therapeutic Strategy to Reduce Neuronal Death in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Nov. 16, 2023 — Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects neurons in the brain and spinal cord causing loss of muscle control. ...

A Promising Drug Candidate for ALS -- Prolongs Lifespan and Eases Symptoms in Rats and Mice

Sep. 22, 2023 — A research group has found a promising drug candidate for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor ...

Guidelines Follow Advances in ALS Gene Discovery, Ongoing Gene Therapy Trials

Sep. 18, 2023 — Researchers have developed an evidence-based consensus guidelines for genetic testing and counseling for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease that affects ...

New Insights Into the Protein-Mediated Motor Neuron Loss in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Aug. 18, 2023 — Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a widespread neurodegenerative disease caused by the loss of neurons that control movement. Although abnormal accumulation of proteins called TDP-43 accompanies ...

Research Reveals the Scale of Disorder Underpinning Motor Neurone Disease

July 21, 2023 — Researchers have shown that hundreds of proteins and mRNA molecules are found in the wrong place in nerve cells affected by Motor Neuron Disease (MND), also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ...

Parkinson's Disease Drug Ropinirole Safely Slowed the Progression of ALS for Over 6 Months in a Clinical Trial

June 2, 2023 — Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal motor neuron disease that causes people to gradually lose control of their muscles. There is no cure, and ...

DNA Treatment Could Delay Paralysis That Strikes Nearly All Patients With ALS

Mar. 16, 2023 — Researchers use a DNA designer drug to restore key protein levels in motor neurons, delaying paralysis in a mouse model of ...

Researchers Discover Therapeutic Target to Aid in Glaucoma Treatment

Mar. 10, 2023 — Researchers have identified a new therapeutic target that could lead to more effective treatment of ...

RNA Modification 'Pivotal' for Protein Linked to Neurodegeneration in ALS

Feb. 27, 2023 — Scientists know that TDP-43, which helps regulate processing of RNA, may be responsible for the death of nerve cells in ALS and frontotemporal dementia. And a study suggests that a common ...

Reading out RNA Structures in Real Time

Feb. 2, 2023 — A new microscopic technique allows for the real-time study of RNA G-quadruplexes in living cells, with implications for the fight against amyotrophic lateral ...

New Analysis of Cellular 'Vehicles' Drives a Deeper Understanding of ALS, Alzheimer's

Dec. 1, 2022 — Scientists have taken a key step toward better understanding neurodegenerative diseases by using a suite of biophysical techniques to learn more about a motor protein whose malfunction is associated ...

Investigational Drug for Genetic Form of ALS Improves Disease's Molecular Signs

Sep. 21, 2022 — An international phase 3 clinical trial for a rare, inherited form of ALS showed that an investigational drug, known as tofersen, reduced molecular signs of disease, but at six months did not improve ...

Promising MND Drug Helps Slow Disease Progression and Benefits Patients Physically

Sep. 21, 2022 — Scientists believe a new genetically-targeted therapy to treat motor neurone disease (MND) could be a turning point for patient care, after the results of a Phase 3 clinical trial showed significant ...

First Mouse Model With Mitochondrial tRNALeu Mutation Developed

Aug. 30, 2022 — Researchers have developed the first mouse model for a mitochondrial tRNALeu mutation, showing that the associated metabolic disorder results from faulty RNA ...

ALS May Be Linked to Both the Immune and Central Nervous Systems

June 22, 2022 — The immune system may play a fundamental role along with the central nervous system in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as 'Lou Gehrig's disease,' researchers ...

Muscle Biopsy Test for Biomarker Could Lead to Earlier Diagnosis of ALS

June 21, 2022 — Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease of the nervous system. It affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord called motor neurons. Motor neurons control muscle movement and ...

New ALS 'Drug' Is More Effective Than Existing Ones

May 18, 2022 — New preclinical research on the experimental drug, NU-9, to treat ALS shows it is more effective than existing FDA-approved drugs for the disease. More importantly, NU-9 has an enhanced effect when ...

Potential Window for Treating ALS Identified

Mar. 29, 2022 — Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects as many as 30,000 people in the United States, with 5,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It weakens muscles over time, ...

Scientists Discover a New Molecular Pathway Shared by Two Neurodegenerative Disorders

Feb. 28, 2022 — Researchers from two independent research teams have discovered how the mislocalization of a protein, known as TDP-43, alters the genetic instructions for UNC13A, providing a possible therapeutic ...

Discovery of a New ALS and Dementia Disease Mechanism Raises Treatment Hopes

Feb. 23, 2022 — A pioneering new study has revealed, for the first time, why a common genetic variant worsens disease outcomes for people with the devastating adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases amyotrophic ...

New Meta-Analysis Explores Potential Environmental Causes of ALS Disease

Jan. 26, 2022 — In a new meta-analysis of available ALS literature, researchers explore environmental influences potentially linked ALS disease, using rigorous quantitative methods. The study also examines the ...

Astrocyte Studies Reveal Harmful Changes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Jan. 18, 2022 — Scientists have revealed harmful changes in supporting cells, called astrocytes, in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ...