Early Diagnosis

Finding TDP-43 Clumps in Muscle Biopsies May Speed Diagnosis

Doing a muscle biopsy to look for abnormal clumps of the TDP-43 protein in the nerve fibers of muscle tissue may be useful for the early detection of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a single-center study from Japan. “It is difficult to diagnose ALS in its early stages…

Blood Tests of Neurofilament Levels as Early ALS, FTD Biomarker Sought

A two-year project aims to identify reliable blood tests for measuring neurofilament protein levels, which could aid in the early detection of frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and possibly other rare neurodegenerative disorders. Neurofilament, a protein component of neurons, is released when these nerve cells are…

Young Woman With ALS Creates Nonprofit for People Like Her

When Leah Stavenhagen was 27, she was living in Paris and traveling through Europe. But an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis forced her to give up her job as a consultant with Ernst & Young and dashed her dreams of continuing to work abroad. At the time, she seemed…

Early Signs of Bulbar Disease in ALS May Be Evident in Tongue’s Movement While Talking

Researchers report that evaluating a person’s control of tongue movement during speech can help to diagnose bulbar disease, especially in its early stages, in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS affects motor neurons in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. If patients show alterations in speech or swallowing abilities they are…