The proportion of people diagnosed with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) among all cases is 8%, according to a pooled analysis of studies published worldwide. Still, data show there was a wide variation of estimates across the studies based partly on geographical differences, study design, the definition of familial…
People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) due to mutations in the FUS gene may benefit from interferon-gamma treatment to delay disease onset and/or progression, an early preclinical study suggests. Researchers found that an immune signaling protein called interferon (INF)-gamma protected patient-derived motor neurons from oxidative stress. INF-gamma also restored…
Magnetic stimulation restored the health of lab-grown motor neurons — the muscle-controlling nerve cells that die in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — derived from people with familial ALS, according to a proof-of-concept study. The approach improved several biological processes in motor neurons, including the movement of cellular components along…
A potential new genetic risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been discovered by researchers at the University of Washington. The scientists say a mutation in which a region of the WDR7 gene is repeated more times than usual may increase the risk of ALS. “We believe that…
Just when we think life has dealt us the worst hand possible, along comes someone whose circumstances make ours look a little less daunting. I’ve experienced that feeling a few times in a support group I attend and when online. But one of the most difficult hands I’ve seen in…
The cerebrospinal fluid of people with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sALS), but not of those with familial forms of the disease, promoted ALS-specific molecular, cellular, and motor abnormalities in healthy mice, a study showed. Apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB100), a protein involved in cholesterol transport, was identified as the main…
Altered forms of the SOD1 protein are found in the spinal cord nerve cells of people with all types of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), not just those with mutations in the gene providing instructions for making the protein, a study reported. “The results suggest this abnormal protein contributes to cell…
A Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating AL-S Pharma AG’s experimental therapy AP-101 in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has enrolled its first patient. The study (NCT05039099) already is recruiting up to 63 adults with sporadic and SOD1-related familial ALS at one of its Canadian sites.
The first part of Biogen’s early access program for tofersen is now open to patients with the most rapidly progressing cases of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the company announced. These patients, with familial ALS caused by mutations in the SOD1 gene, will be the first to…
CRISPR Therapeutics and Capsida Biotherapeutics have partnered to develop gene-editing therapies for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Friedreich’s ataxia. Capsida specializes in designing virus-based means of delivering therapies to specific cells, while CRISPR’s expertise lies in gene-editing technology, particularly the CRISPR gene-editing system. “Bringing together…
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