epigenetics

Epigenetic changes — chemical modifications in DNA that alter gene activity — in nerve cells from people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be associated with the rate of disease progression, a study suggested. Changes in certain regions of a patient’s nerve cell genome were able “to predict ALS…

Reduced activity of the TDP-43 protein, a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), leads to changes in the DNA of nerve cells, which alters the activity of important genes, a new study reports. These findings may help explain how problems with this protein can contribute to the death of…

“Clustering” people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) based on biological data could be useful for identifying those most likely to have slower or faster progressing disease, a new study shows. The findings were presented in a talk, “Fast Progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Pathways and Biomarkers…

Thanks to the implementation of proactive safety measures for the COVID-19 pandemic, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America (MTPA) has enrolled at least 33 adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in its ongoing REFINE-ALS biomarker study. “ALS patient needs remain MTPA’s primary focus, so it was a priority to address the…

A specific type of genetic alteration — known as epigenetic changes — observed in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may lead to novel treatments and diagnostic tools, according to a review study. The study, “Epigenetics in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a role for histone post-translational modifications…

The noninvasive detection of changes in the blood specific to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may improve the diagnosis of the disease, according to researchers. Their study, “Initial Identification of a Blood-Based Chromosome Conformation Signature for Aiding in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,” appeared in the journal…

Dutch researchers have identified new genes and biological mechanisms possibly involved in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with and without amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study, “Susceptible genes and disease mechanisms identified in frontotemporal dementia and frontotemporal dementia with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis by DNA-methylation and GWAS,” appeared in the…

Oxford BioDynamics is expanding its program for biomarker discovery with tests for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a clinical study in Malaysia, using its EpiSwitch technology. Researchers hope the new study, one of the largest ALS studies in Asia to date, will allow the development of a diagnostic test that…