β-N-methylamino-l-alanine

Monkeys on Neurotoxic Diet May Be New Animal Model for ALS Research

A neurotoxic amino acid called β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) fed to vervet monkeys caused damage to the spinal cord similar to what is seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), potentially making them a much-needed new animal model for research, a study reported. Adding L-serine, a non-toxic amino acid, to their diet…

Neurotoxins in Shark Fins, Meat Linked to ALS and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases

University of Miami researchers found high concentrations of toxins associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in the fins and muscles of 10 different shark species, some of them threatened by extinction due to overfishing. Such findings suggest that restriction of shark meat and fins consumption may have important…