View clinical trials related to Motor Neuron Disease.
Filter by:The purpose of this clinical trial is to asses the feasibility and the security of the intraspinal infusion of autologous bone marrow stem cells for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis patients.
Consistent data suggest that neuromuscular transmission is impaired in ALS patients. Neuromuscular junctions dysfunction may appear very early in the disease, as shown by data in animal models. The pathogenesis of this neuromuscular transmission impairment is unknown. Nogo A isoform, a possible marker of the disease over-expressed in skeletal muscle of ALS patients, can be involved. We will characterize the pathophysiological mechanisms implicated using a complete study of the structure and function of the NMJ on muscle biopsies, in a group of 20 ALS patients compared to 10 controls.
The involvement of Lymphocyte type B in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients will be compared to lymphocyte in healthy subjects.
This is a study in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We will use muscle ultrasound as a tool to try and see if there are changes in muscle size that can find out how fast ALS is progressing. This might give us a better way to carry out further studies on new drugs to see if they might help slow the progression of ALS. Participants in the study will have muscle ultrasound performed on a few muscles in the arms and legs at the first visit, and again 3 months later, and one last time 3 months after that. This takes about 10 minutes, is painless, and involves scanning the muscle with a handheld device, with some gel applied to the skin. At each visit, there will also be a questionnaire about symptoms and strength testing.
The investigators' preliminary studies demonstrated that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the brain may determine a slight slowing in the rate of disease progression in ALS patients (Di Lazzaro et al 2004, 2006). The aim of this study is to investigate whether rTMS of the motor cortex performed over a long period of time (12 months) in a group of patients with ALS, can have a more pronounced beneficial effect. The investigators will compare the disease progression in two groups of patients: the first group of patients will be treated with real rTMS (one week daily treatment every month) and the second group of patients will be treated with sham (placebo) rTMS.
We are collecting blood samples, clinical and family information from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) patients and their families to identify causes of ALS and ALS/dementia.
The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of lithium combined with riluzole to riluzole combined with placebo in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Many patients with ALS experience cramps during the course of the disease. Frequently, cramps occur as the first symptom of the disease, months before the patients notice weakness and wasting. Cramp severity varies from mild, without affecting daily activities and sleep, to disabling, where almost any voluntary muscle activity induces long standing, severely painful cramping. ALS patients who smoke herbal cannabis (marijuana) or drink hemp tea report lessening of cramps and fasciculations. Although, various medications, such as magnesium, quinine sulfate, lioresal, dantrolene, clonazepam, diphenylhydantoin and gabapentin are used for the treatment of cramps in ALS so far, no medication has been of proven benefit. However, a recent pilot study with THC in ALS showed symptomatic effects in "spasms", fasciculations, insomnia and appetite. The aim of the proposed study is to determine the tolerability, safety and efficacy of THC in the treatment of cramps in ALS. The hypothesis is that THC will lessen cramps in ALS.
The purpose of this study is to track areas of the brain, via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), that retain structural and functional integrity throughout the lifespan of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Induced pluripotent stem cells potentially may be useful in the future as an unlimited source of cells for transplantation. The major goal of the project is to develop human iPS cells from various types of cell cultures or lines from existing collections. The IPS cells will be developed for modeling diseases, for developing the technology that may eventually allow the use of IPS cells for transplantation therapy, and for basic research.