Smoking may now be considered an established risk factor for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease Nov 17, 2009
"This has been realized in some animal models of familial ALS, but not in humans. The hope that these concepts may apply to sporadic disease and change its outlook in the future is supported by establishing the association of smoking with ALS occurrence," concluded Dr. Armon ... Some 90-95 percent of cases appear to occur at random ("sporadic cases'), with 5-10 percent of cases having an affected blood relative ("familial cases"). An altered gene, several of which have been identified, is... (EurekAlert!)
Compound Shows Potential For Slowing Progression Of Lou Gehrig's Disease Oct 21, 2009
24, 2009) Human stem cells are used to create motor neurons that carry familial ALS mutations. These human stem cell-derived neurons look and act like normal motor neurons, and, when carrying ALS mutations. (Science Daily)
Scientists Identify Genes Linked To Lou Gehrig's Disease Sep 10, 2009
According to the ALS Association, only about 10 percent of patients have familial ALS, a directly inherited form of the usually fatal neuromuscular disorder ... 24, 2009) Human stem cells are used to create motor neurons that carry familial ALS mutations. (Science Daily)
UMMS researchers isolate first 'neuroprotective' gene in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis May 12, 2009
In 1993, a team of researchers led by Dr. Brown discovered the first gene linked to familial ALS, a protein anti-oxidant known as superoxide dismutase, or SOD1 ... There are only four genes known, that when mutated, cause familial ALS. The KIFAP3 gene variant is the first to be linked with the rate of progression in ALS.. (EurekAlert!)
Family honored for courage in face of disease May 9, 2009
It turns out that the disease is familial ALS. Scherer s mother and aunt died from the disease. A Decatur city bus driver for 31 years, Scherer was never ill. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
New Gene Associated With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Identified Mar 4, 2009
We found a series of mutations in a gene that interacts with biological pathways already implicated in ALS and other neurological diseases, resulting in familial ALS of differing inheritance patterns and varying severity, says Thomas Kwiatkowski, MD, PhD, of the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MGH-MIND), lead author of the MGH report ... The first gene associated with familial ALS, SOD1, was discovered in 1993 by a multi-institutional team led by Robert Brown, MD, PhD,... (Science Daily)
Gene Mutation Linked to Inherited ALS Feb 28, 2009
"We found a series of mutations in a gene that interacts with biological pathways already implicated in ALS and other neurological diseases, resulting in familial ALS of differing inheritance patterns and varying severity," Dr. Thomas Kwiatkowski, of the Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease at Massachusetts General Hospital and lead author of the report, said in a news release from the hospital. The discovery "puts us closer to identifying the link between inherited and sporadic ALS as well... (MEDLINEplus)
Gene linked to some cases of ALS found Feb 28, 2009
Bruijn says a test "will be possible; however, currently, it is not widely accessible" and "it would only be used in familial ALS patients.". Share this on. (CNN -- Health)
Human stem cells provide a new model for Lou Gehrig's disease Feb 23, 2009
Motor neurons derived from embryonic stem cells mimic the progress of familial ALS ... Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles developed an optimized protocol to generate motor neurons from human embryonic stem cells (ES cells), which express normal or mutant forms of the SOD-1 gene, which is linked to inherited, familial ALS. Resulting cells exhibit hallmark characteristics of motor nerve cells, and neurons expressing mutant SOD-1 display abnormalities typical of ALS. Defects... (EurekAlert!)
