View clinical trials related to Motor Neuron Disease.
Filter by:The goal of this observational study is to understand the clinical variability in a population of ALS patients using multidimensional biomarkers. The main questions it aims to answer are: - Which set of biomarkers explain genotypic-phenotypic correlations in ALS? - Which set of biomarkers can be used to subdivide the ALS population in homogeneous subgroups? Participants will undergo: - neurological evaluation - neurophysiological evaluation - neuropsychological evaluation - whole exome sequencing - biomarker measurement in CSF and plasma
Study Description: Characterization of Motor Neuron Disease Phenotypes The goal of this observational study is to understand the clinical presentation of motor neuron disease (MND) in patients attending the Neurology Department of the Istituto Auxologico Italiano. The main questions it aims to answer are: - What are the specific clinical phenotypes associated with MND? - How can these phenotypes contribute to a better understanding of the disease's underlying mechanisms and improve prognostic accuracy? Participants will undergo: - Clinical evaluation using validated scales - Neurophysiological and neuroradiological instrumental assessment - Neuropsychological evaluation - Collection of biological materials for genetic screening and biomarker assessment, if necessary.
This is a single-session, case-control study that incorporates digital tools for assessing speech and motor function in motor neuron disease. Patients with motor neuron disease (including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), and progressive muscular atrophy (PMA)) and age-matched healthy controls will be enrolled. Subjects will complete a speech and handwriting assessment during the study visit on a tablet computer (BioSensics LLC, Newton, MA). We will explore whether these digital biomarkers are sensitive to functional disease severity as reported by the ALS Functional Rating Scale - Revised (ALFRS-R) [1]. We will also compare assessment data between the patient and control groups.
The proposed study is an Open-Label, Single-Dose Study to Assess the Safety, and Pharmacodynamics (PD) signals of MRG-001 in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). MRG-001 will be administered subcutaneously 3 times per week for 2 weeks. This cycle will be repeated for 3 months. In total, patients are expected to receive 18 injections over the span of 3 months.
In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the reduction of regulatory T-lymphocyte (Treg) numbers and suppressive function correlates with rapid disease progression. The investigator completed a phase 1 study of infusions of expanded autologous Tregs in combination with subcutaneous IL-2 injections in ALS patients, which showed enhancement of Treg numbers and suppressive function in vivo. The enhanced Treg suppressive function correlated strongly with slowing and stabilization of disease progression. Drugs that enhance endogenous Treg numbers and suppressive function may also stabilize disease in ALS. This phase 1 study aims to determine whether the combination therapy of subcutaneous IL-2 and abatacept (Orencia®) is safe and well-tolerated in 6 patients with ALS, and whether the therapy enhances Treg numbers and suppressive function in vivo.
Multidisciplinary management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can significantly increase survival but also improve the quality of life of patients. The evaluation of cortical-spinal motor neuron damage is currently based only on the assessment of clinical data. However, the alteration of the central motor pathway and conduction can be identified and quantified by different techniques using motor-evoked potentials (MEP). The combined quadriceps test (QCT) has been developed to assess central and peripheral motor pathway conduction. This test allows to quantify central and peripheral part of a mixed disorder, and to detect physiological hyporeflexia or hyperreflexia which, in the case of suspected ALS, can lead to interpretation problems. The evolution of the QCT parameters during the course of pathology will lead to determine the preponderance of an initial central involvement, but also its extension throughout the pathology. The study of these parameters as well as the clinical course of the disease could reveal a correlation between peripheral and central involvement. This link would provide arguments in favor of pathophysiological hypotheses of disease onset and progression. From a prognostic point of view and depending on the quantification of central and peripheral involvement, the QCT would make it possible to characterize the different ALS phenotypes. This phenotypic characterization would help identify prognostic factors at diagnosis. The investigators propose a cohort study with the exploration of central motor neuron damage by QCT during the course of ALS in order to provide arguments for a better mechanistic understanding and follow-up of this disease with a poor prognosis.
This study aims at evaluating efficacy and tolerability of an ultra-high-caloric, fatty diet (UFD) compared to placebo in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effect of communicative interaction on verbal communication in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and age-matched speakers. The question is, What are the effects of communicative interaction on verbal communication in people with ALS? Participants will read words and sentences while they are in a solo setting and interactive setting.
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a chronic progressive neurological condition where people experience weakness of muscles leading to pain and restriction of movement as well as problems with swallowing, breathing and communication. The purpose of this study is to establish if Virtual Reality is useful for people with MND and if it helps improve their well being.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by selective death of upper and lower motor neurons, which leads to severe disability and fatal outcomes. One of the major hallmarks of ALS is the denervation of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), which is one of the earliest events seen in ALS patients and mouse models of ALS. Under healthy conditions, glial cells called Perisynaptic Schwann Cells (PSCs) have a key role in regulating the stability and maintenance of NMJs, but they only participate in NMJ repair once denervation occurs. Denervation and the subsequent decline in synaptic activity triggers a loss of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) in the PSC, and the resulting decrease in mAChR-mediated gene expression drives the "repair mode" of the PSC. In assessing the NMJ under conditions of ALS, a scarcity of process extensions in PSCs was observed for months prior to disease onset in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mouse model of ALS, indicating inadequate glial repair. Collectively, these preclinical findings support the hypothesis that dampening glial mAChRs will restore the anticipated "repair" response of PSCs in the NMJ. Hence, the use of a selective M3 muscarinic receptor antagonist, Darifenacin, as a disease-modifying therapeutic in familial and sporadic ALS could improve NMJ function, resulting in a beneficial impact on the autonomy and quality of life of ALS patients. The purpose of the current Phase 2 trial is therefore to test the safety, tolerability, and pharmacology of Darifenacin in patients with ALS. Specifically, 30 eligible subjects between 18 and 85 years of age will take 7.5 mg of darifenacin or placebo daily (by mouth) for two weeks followed by an increased dose of 15 mg for the next 22 weeks. The trial will evaluate the effects of this medication on several outcome measures including patient safety, physical and neurological function, muscle strength, depression levels, and NMJ innervation of patients with ALS. Detailed clinical assessments will be conducted at regular intervals throughout the study in order to achieve these objectives.