Philanthropist Pledges $20 Million to Florida University for ALS Work Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has received a $20 million bequest from a philanthropist whose late wife had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In a Jan. 9 news announcement, NSU, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said the gift came from David Husman, founder and chairman of Heartland…
Briefly: Florida University Receives ALS Gift; Medtrade to Feature CRT Live Demos
New Biopharmaceutical Company to Work on UNC13A Protein Cure to ALS
The startup has secured $101 million in funding to pursue a treatment that could impact 97% of ALS patients.
Trace Neuroscience, a biopharmaceutical launch based in South San Francisco, is targeting the UNC13A protein as a possible treatment path for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurogenerative diseases. In a Nov. 12 press release, the company said UNC13A “is a genetically validated target with the potential to treat 97% of people living with ALS.”…
Briefly: CMS Adds Inclusion Body Myositis to Seating Consideration List; Nonprofit Debuts Caregiver Website
Featuring NCART, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and I AM ALS.
CMS Adds Inclusion Body Myositis ICD-10 Code for Seating Considerations The National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) has reported that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has added the ICD-10 code for inclusion body myositis (G72.41) to the Group 2 and Group 4 lists for consideration for a skin protection and/or…
Scott-Morgan Foundation, Lenovo Introduce AI-Powered Communication Tech for People with ALS
New system gives people with ALS greater ability to personalize their communications, today and going forward.
New technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI) could offer greater communications customizability for people with conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In an October press release, the Scott-Morgan Foundation and Lenovo introduced “a new technology suite combining predictive AI, hyper-realistic avatars, personalized voices, and eye-gaze tracking.” The introduction came at Lenovo Tech World 2024,…
‘Healthy Brains’ Act Would Establish Program to Study Environmental Relationship to Neurodegenerative Diseases
H.R. 9233 calls for the National Institutes of Health to create collaborative centers for research.
A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would establish a research program to study how environmental factors link to neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and atypical Parkinsonian disorders, among others. The Harmonizing Environmental Analyses and Launching Therapeutic Hubs to Yield Bolstered Research and Innovation in Neurological Science…
EverythingALS Launches App for ALS Community
New version of the app will connect people with ALS while collecting data to support research.
EverythingALS, a technology- and data-focused nonprofit, has launched an app to support people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), their families and caregivers, researchers, and health-care professionals. In a late August news release, Seattle-based EverythingALS said the new app, compatible with iOS and Android devices, “represents a significant upgrade from the previous version, which was…
Briefly: Workshop to Investigate GLP-1R and Nervous System Disorders; ALS Survey Investigates AI Impact on AAC
Featuring the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and Boston Children’s Hospital.
NASEM Public Workshop to Discuss Applications of GLP-1R Agonists The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) is hosting a Sept. 10 day-long workshop to discuss the impact of glucagon-like peptide-r receptor (GLP-1R) agonists on central nervous system disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. The workshop will bring together experts from a number…
Study: Speech Neuroprosthesis Demonstrates Quick Setup, Accuracy in ALS Patient
Brain-computer interfaces can be easier to operate than eye-gaze and other systems for people living with paralysis.
A brain-computer speech interface implanted in a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was brought up to speed quickly and demonstrated impressive accuracy, according to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The study — “An Accurate and Rapidly Calibrating Speech Neuroprosthesis” — was published by the NEJM on Aug. 14.…
Synchron Announces Successful Brain-Computer Interface with Apple Vision Pro
An ALS patient named Mark has used his thoughts to operate the spatial computing system.
Synchron has announced that a patient using its brain-computer interface has successfully used his thoughts to control the cursor of the Apple Vision Pro, a spatial computing system. In a July 30 press release, Brooklyn-based Synchron said Mark, a 64-year-old with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), “successfully used his direct thoughts to control the cursor on…
Study: Physically Active Men, But Not Women, at Lower ALS Risk
Other studies have shown increased ALS risk for professional athletes.
A new study from Norway found reduced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) risk for physically active men, but not for similarly active women. The research — Physical Activity, Fitness, and Long-Term Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Prospective Cohort Study — will be published in the July 23 issue of Neurology. The study’s abstract noted that…