Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

The gene expression profiles of motor neurons — the specialized nerve cells that control movement and are lost in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — vary among men and women, with substantial differences found between the sexes in a new study done using induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs. “The…

A team of U.S. researchers have identified two proteins in the lab — PIKFYVE and SYF2 — that may each be a useful therapeutic target for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Their findings on these potential molecular targets were published in a pair of studies earlier this month. “Our…

A group of experts, led by scientists from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), has published a set of strategic priorities for the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) community that are expected to guide future research funding. The goals include better understanding the biology underlying ALS, finding…

Human motor neurons rely on a specialized molecular architecture to help support their large size, which may partially explain why they are more vulnerable than other nerve cells to damage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). That’s according to the study, “A cellular taxonomy of the adult…

A wearable robotic device that helps lift the shoulders to support arm movements can make it easier for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to do daily tasks, a new study reports. Using the lightweight device — now a fabric-based robot prototype — led to significant improvements in upper…

Note: This story were updated Feb. 14, 2023, to correct that ICER analyses found both Radicava ORS and Relyvrio are not cost-effective for the treatment of ALS. The recently approved therapies Relyvrio (sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol) and …

Scientists have developed a new method that allows them to grow mature nerve cells from stem cells — a technique that could be applied to study diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). “For the first time, we have been able to see adult-onset neurological protein aggregation in the stem…

Synchron‘s Stentrode, an implantable brain-computer interface designed to allow people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other paralyzing conditions to control a computer using their thoughts, showed a positive safety profile in a small clinical trial. The four people in the Australian study had ALS and severe…

Use of ATH-1105, a small molecule being developed by Athira Pharma to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), protected against nerve damage and improved motor function in a mouse model of the disease, according to data shared in a recent company presentation. Athira is planning to file an…

Bosutinib, an inhibitor approved to treat a blood cancer, showed no unexpected safety concerns in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with some patients experiencing slower disease progression while on the therapy, results from a Phase 1 clinical trial showed. Larger clinical trials are needed to confirm if bosutinib…