View clinical trials related to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Filter by:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease, which cases the death of neurons controlling the voluntary muscles. The death of motor neurons leads eventually to muscle weakness and muscle atrophy and as a consequence thereof, ALS patients die in average within three years after symptom onset due to respiratory failure. No cure for ALS is currently known, and the medical diagnosis and clinical treatment are impeded by the lack of reliable diagnostic tools for objective disease assessment, and by the limited insight in disease pathophysiology since the underlying disease mechanisms still have not been fully elucidated. An unbalance in the concentrations of GABA and glutamate, the most important inhibitory and excitatory brain metabolites, is suggested to play a role in the disease mechanisms of ALS. By applying Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), a magnetic resonance method which allows for quantification of brain metabolites, GABA and glutamate concentration can be quantified and thus hopefully elucidate their role in ALS disease mechanism. Threshold Tracking Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TT-TMS) studies carried out by a single research group have demonstrated cortical hyperexcitability (a physiology state in which neurons in the cerebral cortex are easier activated) as an early feature in ALS patients. For this reason, TT-TMS was suggested as a biomarker of ALS by the research group. However, to be able to suggest a test as a biomarker, one must show the test is reliable and reproducible. The objectives of this study are therefore: to explore the pathophysiology of ALS by investigating the interaction between neuronal networks as assessed by TT-TMS and conventional TMS and MRS, and to investigate the reliability and reproducibility of TT-TMS. The aim is to examine the utility of TT-TMS and MRS as diagnostic tools for objective detection of ALS in the early disease stage. The study will include 60 participants in total, subdivided into two groups: 30 healthy participants and 30 patients with clinical suspicion of motor neuron disease or ALS. Each participant will undergo examination with TMS and MRS, the primary outcomes will be compared between the two groups and the results from the TMS examinations and the MRS-scans will be correlated.
We have had reports of an individual who utilized a modified Paleolithic diet and vitamin/ supplement program as part of his approach to managing ALS related symptoms. This individual has experienced stability in his ALS functional rating score and stable to improving strength over an 18 month period. There are also anecdotal reports of ALS patients who have utilized a dietary approach based on a Paleolithic eating plan of improved function. This is a safety study. We will be assessing if patients can implement the proposed modified Paleolithic diet (Wahls Elimination), if lean muscle mass is maintained on the study diet, and what changes occur in the ALS functional symptoms and quality of life.
Fifty patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that is progressing rapidly will be randomized to receive either the monoclonal antibody IC14 or placebo to be given intravenously over two hours twice weekly for 12 weeks. Blood and urine tests will be done to measure biomarkers in order to evaluate clinical response and to monitor for safety. Other evaluations include patient questionnaires about function, quality of life and mental function; pulmonary function test; and sniff nasal pressure.
Patients with rapidly progressive ALS will be assigned to IC14 intravenously on Day 1-4. This 4-day course will be repeated on Days 8-11. Patients will all undergo MR-PET scans at two time points: before treatment onset and after the last treatment cycle. This scan will measure areas of ALS disease activity and assess response to IC14 treatment. MR-PET scans will be compared to historical controls.
The primary objective of this study is to assess the safety and tolerability, with emphasis on the oral cavity, of ROSF (containing riluzole 50mg) in subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) administered twice daily for 12 weeks. Secondary objectives include (1) to record the subject's assessment of any difficulty taking riluzole administered as ROSF and any difficulty taking riluzole in the tablet formulation and (2) to record the relative preference, if any, of subjects and caretakers, for riluzole administered as ROSF vs. the riluzole tablet.
The FLX-787-106 study will determine how well FLX-787-ODT works to reduce fasciculations in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The study will measure how often fasciculations occur, and monitor any side effects that might develop while taking the investigational product. Participants will be assessed before and after taking a single dose of FLX-787-ODT. Approximately 15 people will take part in this study at one center in the United States. Participants will be in the study for a single clinic visit and receive a telephone call 7 days later to monitor for side effects.
- People with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have reduced connections in the nerve circuits between the brain and the hands. Activating spared nerve circuits is one potential way to improve recovery. - The investigators are testing different combinations of physical wrist and hand movements paired with magnetic brain stimulation and electrical spinal cord or nerve stimulation to see the effects on nerve transmission to hand muscles. - This is a preliminary study. This study is testing for temporary changes in nerve transmission to hand muscles. There is no expectation of long-term benefit from this study. If temporary changes are seen in this study, then future studies would focus on how to prolong that effect.
The purpose of this research study is to collect more information about the use, safety, and effectiveness of the NeuRx DPS® in ALS patients.
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety of combining phospholipids with medicinal plants for treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Neuroinflammation, characterized in particular by microglia activation, is an essential component of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis. Translocator Protein (TSPO) is recognized as a specific and sensitive biomarker of neuroinflammation, reflecting disease activity. An experimental radiopharmaceutical specific of TSPO expression, namely [18F]DPA714, allow to quantify this microglial activation using Positon Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. The purpose of this study is to longitudinally correlate the spatial distribution of neuroinflammation with the pro- or anti-inflammatory state of activated microglia cells in ALS, in order to evaluate neurotoxic or neuroprotective microglia activity, by complementary approaches in 20 ALS patients: - in vitro: measuring concentrations of several pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines secreted by microglial cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). - in vivo: [18F]DPA714 PET imaging. These assays will be performed in the framework of the clinical follow-up of ALS patients, at the diagnosis of ALS disease and 6 months latter.