Latest Motor neuron disease Stories

Regenerative Medicine Institute research sheds new light on cell death in a common, lethal genetic disease in children, suggesting paths for potential treatment Cedars-Sinai's Regenerative Medicine Institute has pioneered research on how motor-neuron cell-death occurs in patients with spinal muscular atrophy, offering an important clue in identifying potential medicines to treat this leading genetic cause of death in infants and toddlers. The study, published in the June 19 online...

A long-used anti-cancer drug could be a starting point to develop new treatments for the incurable nerve disease known as Lou Gehrig's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), scientists are reporting. Their research showing how the drug prevents clumping of an enzyme linked to ALS appears in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Lucia Banci, Ivano Bertini and colleagues explain that ALS causes a progressive loss of muscle control as the nerves that control body movements...

Connie K. Ho for RedOrbit.com Calorie counting. Excessive exercising. For any person, losing weight and eating healthy can be a difficult challenge. In a recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers stated that mobile technology, remote coaching, and financial incentives could possibly improve the diet and physical activity of patients to promote healthier habits The scientists discussed the difficulty patients have in following their physicians’ advice in obtaining...

UCLA researchers may have found a key to determining which Parkinson's disease patients will experience a more rapid decline in motor function, sparking hopes for the development of new therapies and helping identify those who could benefit most from early intervention. In a study published May 15 in the peer-reviewed online journal PLoS ONE, the researchers found that Parkinson's sufferers who possess two specific variants of a gene known to be a risk factor for the disease had a...

Partnership Aimed at Neuromuscular Junction Strength against Disease Course CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and SCHLIEREN-ZURICH, Switzerland, May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) announced today that it has entered into collaboration with Neurotune to investigate a potential treatment for ALS (aka Motor Neuron or Lou Gehrig's disease). (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120514/DC05793) (Logo:...

Scientists have confirmed that mutations of a gene are responsible for some cases of a rare, inherited disease that causes progressive muscle degeneration and weakness: spinal muscular atrophy with lower extremity predominance, also known as SMA-LED. "Typical spinal muscular atrophies begin in infancy or early childhood and are fatal, involving all motor neurons, but SMA-LED predominantly affects nerve cells controlling muscles of the legs. It is not fatal and the prognosis is good,...

ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will be permitted to receive a second dose of stem cells delivered directly to the spinal cord, in a clinical trial being led by the University of Michigan's Eva Feldman, M.D. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the second treatment after a review concluded that the patients showed no adverse effects from their first implantation surgeries. All have ALS, the...

Complement Pathway Modulation at Center of Collaboration CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and AMSTERDAM, May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) announced today that it has entered into a partnership with Regenesance to investigate a potential treatment for ALS (aka Motor Neurone or Lou Gehrig's disease). The collaboration will enable ALS TDI, the world's largest ALS drug development center, to screen novel compounds against a crucial pathway...

The Month of May is Recognized Nationally to Heighten Awareness of the Effects of the Neuromuscular Disease TUCSON, Ariz., May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Muscular Dystrophy Association marks the 21st annual ALS Awareness Month in May by featuring individuals living with the disease in a monthlong series of online profiles called "ALS: Anyone's Life Story®." Local activities, including ALS seminars, special support group programs, and ALS Awareness-themed baseball games...

CHICAGO, April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Ronald L. Chez, owner of 9.2% of Repligen Corporation (Nasdaq: RGEN), issued the following statement: "As a result of my constructive recent conversation with Karen Dawes, Chairperson of Repligen's Board, I plan to discuss my proxy proposal regarding the reduction from 50% to 20% of outstanding shares, to call a special meeting." In addition, "I plan to discuss strategic alternatives for Repligen in light of the positive Phase 1 results...