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What did Stephen Hawking and Mao Zedong have in common? They both suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), for which a cure remains elusive. Scientists took an important step toward the prevention of ALS and another brain disorder called Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with their research on the effects of the antibiotic rifampicin on genetically modified mice. "The primary cause of FTD and ALS is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) in non-coding regions of the C9orf72 gene," said Professor Takami Tomiyama. This mutation causes neurodegeneration through loss-of-function or gain-of-toxic-function mutations.Rifampicin is an antibiotic that slows bacterial RNA production; it is usually...

"I want a beer" ... a simple and direct request, but a damn amazing one because it was uttered by a paralyzed man who's communicating for the first time in months, thanks to a life-changing brain implant. In a testament to the power of science, and beer -- researchers in Switzerland outfitted a 36-year-old ALS patient with a chip in his brain, which allows him to spell out sentences one letter at a time, and he used it to order up a cold one.

Philip O'Keefe, a 62-year-old amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient in Australia recently became the first person to post a message on social media using only his thoughts. On December 23, he posted an initial brief message, "Hello World," on Twitter. The technology that allowed O'Keefe to send his message was developed by brain computer interface company, Synchron—the device is called the Stentrode Brain Computer Interface (SBCI); a type of endovascular brain implant. It was implanted into O'Keefe's brain without opening his skull—instead, it was inserted through his jugular vein. The tiny (8 mm) brain implant was designed to allow people...

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often known as motor neurone disease, slowly kills off nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis and eventually death. Right now, there's no known cure – but we might have just gotten closer to finding one. In a new study, scientists were able to reverse one of the biological abnormalities that ALS introduces in cells. It's important to note this has only been achieved for one form of the disease so far, and only in lab samples, rather than in actual human beings. Even with those caveats, though, it's a significant step forward...

July 22, 2021 (Children’s Health Defense) – As cases pile up (445 as of July 9) of the reportedly “rare” neurological disorder Guillain-Barré syndrome in people who received a COVID vaccine — forcing the sluggish U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to add a warning label to the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) shot — scientists are issuing urgent warnings about a possible tsunami of other types of neurological injuries.Immunologist J. Bart Classen, one-time National Institutes of Health (NIH) contract scientist and proprietor of Classen Immunotherapies, a Maryland biotechnology firm, published a paper in February outlining the potential for messenger RNA...

Lou Gehrig’s worst full season was his best. Despite leading the league in games played (as always), he hit fewer than 30 homers for the first time in a decade, and his batting average dropped nearly 60 points and tied for his career low. His conditioning was questioned, his games-played streak was scrutinized, his All-Star selection was widely lamented. And even when the season ended with his Yankees once again victorious in the World Series, Gehrig’s four singles in 14 at-bats had barely been a factor. Back in 1938, it would have been preposterous to propose that Gehrig was having...

Andre and Melissa Rivenell flew from Australia to Texas in 2019 to spend time with family. Advertisement More than a year later, they've spent their life savings and are still trying to get back home. In December, Andre had a stroke and was diagnosed with a disease that doctors think might be ALS. Since then, his health has declined and he's not able to walk, eat or bathe on his own. The couple now stays in a camper in Melissa's mother's backyard. Their initial flight home in March 2020 was canceled. Then, Andre said his disability assistance was cut off...

Over 50 percent of new COVID cases involve people who have already been vaccinated, [as reported on The Gateway Pundit earlier, according to a Yale epidemiologist]). Now, a startling new report in *Microbiology and Infectious Disease* finds the mRNA vaccines could trigger Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, and other neurological and cognitive degenerative diseases....

Golden Earring, the Dutch rock band known for such hits as “Radar Love,” “Twilight Zone” and “When the Lady Smiles,” has officially called it quits. The decision comes after George Kooymans, the band’s guitarist and co-founder, was diagnosed with ALS. “This is a death blow,” Barry Hay, the singer and multi-instrumentalist who has been a member of the group for over 50 years, declared to Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad. “We always said we would keep going until one of us fell over." Primis Player Placeholder “I didn't expect George to be the first," Hay continued. "Kooymans was always the toughest...

Stephen Hillenburg, who created SpongeBob SquarePants and the absurd undersea world he inhabited, has died at age 57, Nickelodeon announced Tuesday. Hillenburg died Monday of Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as ALS, the cable network said in a statement. He was 57. Hillenburg had announced he had the disease in March 2017. His death comes just weeks after the passing of another cartoon hero in Marvel creator Stan Lee. An Oklahoma native with a love of both drawing and marine biology, Hillenburg conceived, wrote, produced and directed the animated series that began in 1999 and went on to spawn hundreds...

Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of Nickelodeon's animated megahit SpongeBob SquarePants, died Monday. He was 57. Hillenburg died from ALS; he was diagnosed with the disease in March 2017. Nickelodoen paid tribute to him in a tweet on Tuesday: "We are sad to share the news of the passing of Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants. Today, we are observing a moment of silence to honor his life and work."

Dwight Clark, the dashing and charismatic wide receiver who played the starring role in The Catch, the most indelible and important play in 49ers’ history, died Monday at 61, 15 months after announcing he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clark’s wife, Kelly, announced the news, via his Twitter account. “I’m heartbroken to tell you that today I lost my best friend and husband,” Kelly Clark said. “He passed peacefully surrounded by many of the people he loved most. I am thankful for all of Dwight’s friends, teammates and 49ers fans who have sent their love during his battle with ALS.”

As the world mourns the death of famed physicist Stephen Hawking, many are calling out tributes that contain “ableist” language and what one disability rights blogger described as “inspiration porn.” Among the social media posts honoring the A Brief History of Time author, who died March 13 at 76, are references to his use of a wheelchair and ALS diagnosis. Several tributes and obituaries have praised Hawking for “overcoming” his disease, while others claimed that death has “freed” him from his wheelchair. But those comments perpetuate demeaning stereotypes, advocates and members of the public, including model and deaf activist Nyle...

PHILADELPHIA (CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first new drug for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, in more than two decades. The FDA announced Friday that Radicava, also known as edaravone, has been approved for use in the United States. The only other drug specifically for the treatment of ALS is riluzole, which was approved for use in the United States in 1995. Tests conducted in Japan found that ALS sufferers who received edaravone experienced a smaller decline in their level of daily functioning compared to those who received a placebo.

In early July, Betsy Davis emailed her closest friends and relatives to invite them to a two-day party, telling them: "These circumstances are unlike any party you have attended before, requiring emotional stamina, centeredness and openness." And just one rule: No crying in front of her. The 41-year-old artist with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, held the gathering to say farewell before becoming one of the first Californians to take a take a lethal dose of drugs under the state's new doctor-assisted suicide law for the terminally ill.

Former Alabama and NFL fullback Kevin Turner, who died Thursday after a long battle with the neurodegenerative disease ALS, is perhaps best remembered his toughness and versatility as a player and later his perseverance in fighting a deadly illness. Turner, who was 46, played fullback at Alabama from 1988-91. He then spent eight seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, retiring after the 1999 season.

Scientists Connect Brain to a Basic Tablet—Paralyzed Patient Googles With Ease

Graphic by MamaBear After fighting ALS for several months, on Sunday morning Diver Dave was called home to Jesus' loving arms. According to his family, he is having a great reunion with his parents, his oldest sister, his parents-in-law and many others including many FReepers. As we recall what a Patriot Diver Dave was, it seems appropriate that he joined FreeRepublic July 4, 1998. Dave loved this country and our troops. Many times, he drove 2 hours each way to join the Fresno Freepers in support of our troops. Dave had a very strong faith that was an inspiration...

<p>Every few days, Chie Smith, a former cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders, chops, dices, and blends together a selection of fresh, raw vegetables, cooked wild salmon, and quinoa in her Richardson, Texas, home.</p> <p>The smooth puree that she portions out into equal servings are for her husband, former NFL player Steve Smith, 50, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2002 and has been using a feeding tube since 2006.</p>

I have selfish reasons to do the Ice Bucket Challenge this year.To get the basement dwellers up to speed: The Ice Bucket Challenge is where a person has an ice bucket with water dumped over his head to benefit the ALS Association. In my case, I will make a donation over $100 to ALSA, and ask others I challenge to make any donation whatever or get the bucket dumped oj them… or better yet, take the bucket, make a donation and challenge others to do the same.I also give a chance to comrades to torture me with this modified version...