Scientist have shown that there is no apparent connection between common chemicals, like pesticides and herbicides, and developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s disease). However, there is one exception. Marc Weisskopf, PhD, Harvard University, Boston, reported at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, Chicago, that people reporting a ten year or greater [...]

During autopsies of brains, of people who had lateral sclerosis (ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s disease) or frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a protein called TDP-43 was observed to accumulate abnormally. Further studies confirmed the damaging role of TDP-43. Aaron D. Gitler, PhD, Assistant Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, sought a way to [...]

In 1993 researchers identified “superoxide dismutase” as the cause for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease and affects motor neurons that leads to paralysis and death within 1-5 years. Doctors Guy Rouleau, Edor Kabashi, Paul Valdmanis, all of Research Centre of the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de [...]

Patients with Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: ALS) suffer from a progressive degenerative motor neuron disease that is almost always fatal. Patients with ALS often demonstrate a range of coping capabilities. Joanna H. Fanos, Department of Pediatrics, Dartmouth Medical School, New Hampshire, and colleagues, sought to find the different ways ALS patients use internal and [...]

The mission of a recent Mayo Clinic research project was to predict, prevent, and halt brain aging disorders. Demetrius Maraganore, M.D., Mayo Clinic, used an unprecedented method to predict brain aging disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and Parkinson’s disease. Researchers were able to identify several gene variations (DNA fingerprints) [...]