]> Subscribe to the latest newsworthy research about ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, as soon as it is published in <em>Neurology</em>^&reg;, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. <em>Neurology</em> is the world's most widely read and highly cited peer-reviewed neurology journal. http://www.aan.com/rss/?event=feed&channel=4 en ababb@aan.com kwiersma@aan.com Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:27:36 GMT Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:03:13 GMT AXON RSS Extension http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss ababb@aan.com Channel Feedback http://www.aan.com/rss/?event=feed&channel=4 http://www.aan.com/rss/images/channels/channel_4_s.jpg 144 144 Subscribe to the latest newsworthy research about ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, as soon as it is published in <em>Neurology</em>^&reg;, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. <em>Neurology</em> is the world's most widely read and highly cited peer-reviewed neurology journal. false 1 http://www.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_52.pdf EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 2:00 P.M. CT/3:00 P.M. ET, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008 Media Contacts: Angela Babb, (651) 695-2789, ababb@aan.com Rachel Seroka, (651) 695-2738, rseroka@aan.com AAN Press Room 179B (April 12-18): (312) 791-7053 Chemical Exposure May Increase Risk of ALS CHICAGO - Preliminary results show that a common environmental chemical may increase the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12-19, 2008. The study was based on the Cancer Prevention Study II of the American Cancer Society. Over one million people were asked to report their exposure to 12 types of chemicals. The participants were followed for 15 years, and the number of people who died during that time of ALS was tracked. A total of 617 men and 539 women died from ALS during the study. Researchers found no significant link between ALS and exposure to most chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides. People who reported that they had regular exposure to formaldehyde, however, were 34 percent more likely to develop ALS than those with no exposure to formaldehyde. "Although this finding could well be a chance observation, it merits further investigation, particularly because people with longer exposure to formaldehyde had a greater risk of developing ALS than those with shorter exposures," said study author Marc Weisskopf, PhD, of Harvard University in Boston. "People who reported 10 or more years of exposure were almost four times as likely to develop ALS as those with no exposure." Weisskopf said the results are preliminary and more research needs to be done to test the results. "This finding was somewhat surprising, because formaldehyde has not been raised as an issue in ALS before," he said. Formaldehyde is used in particle board and other wood products, permanent press fabrics, glues, and other household products, such as cosmetics and shampoo. It is also used as a preservative in medical laboratories and mortuaries, and as an industrial disinfectant. Weisskopf noted that the participants were asked about their exposure to formaldehyde and other chemicals in 1982. In 1987, formaldehyde was classified as a probable human carcinogen at high exposure levels by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1987. "Exposure since then has generally decreased, but it certainly isn't gone," he said. The study was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense. The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com. http://www.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_52.pdf ababb@aan.com Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:00:00 GMT 1 http://www.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_64.pdf FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Angela Babb, (651) 695-2789, ababb@aan.com Rachel Seroka, (651) 695-2738, rseroka@aan.com AAN Press Room 179B (April 12-18): (312) 791-7053 Johns Hopkins Neurologist Receives AAN S. Weir Mitchell Award ST. PAUL, Minn. - The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is awarding the 2008 S. Weir Mitchell Award to Thomas Lloyd, MD, PhD, with Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, for his research in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Lloyd will receive the award during the AAN's 60th Annual Meeting in Chicago, held April 12-19, 2008. The S. Weir Mitchell Award recognizes an individual for basic research in neuroscience by physicians in clinical neurology training programs. Lloyd's work involved genetically engineering fruit flies to mimic the effects of ALS. The new technique will help future researchers in studying ALS and similar neurodegenerative disorders using an animal that is relatively easy to work with and quick to produce results. "We believe we have created a useful model to study motor neuron disease," said Lloyd. "We hope to use this model both to help understand mechanisms by which motor neurons degenerate in ALS and also to screen for novel therapeutic targets. If compounds or biochemical pathways that suppress motor neuron degeneration phenotypes in the fly have similar efficacy in mouse models, these would be novel drug targets for patients with ALS." "I am honored to receive this award," said Lloyd. "I am thrilled that the AAN supports basic research in invertebrate animal models and realizes the potential impact these models may have in understanding and developing treatments for neurologic diseases." The research was funded by the Packard ALS Center at Johns Hopkins and carried out in the laboratory of Alex Kolodkin, PhD in the Department of Neuroscience. The 60th Annual Meeting, one of the world's largest gatherings of neurology professionals, takes place in the McCormick Place West Convention Center in Chicago. The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com. http://www.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_64.pdf ababb@aan.com Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:58:42 GMT 1 http://www.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_65.pdf FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Angela Babb, (651) 695-2789, ababb@aan.com Rachel Seroka, (651) 695-2738, rseroka@aan.com AAN Press Room 179B (April 12-18): (312) 791-7053 Belgium Researcher Receives AAN's Sheila Essey Award ST. PAUL, Minn. - The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is awarding the 2008 Sheila Essey Award for ALS Research to Wim Robberecht MD, PhD, with the University of Leuven in Leuven, Belgium, for his work in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Robberecht will receive the award during the AAN's 60th Annual Meeting in Chicago, held April 12-19, 2008. The Sheila Essey Award recognizes an individual who has made significant research contributions in the search for the cause, prevention of, and cure for ALS. The $25,000 prize is to be used toward continuing ALS research. ALS is a motor neuron disease which is characterized by the gradual degeneration and death of motor neurons. Both the upper motor neurons and the lower motor neurons are affected in ALS. Robberecht's work focused on finding mechanisms of motor neuron degeneration and identifying targets for intervention. "This, hopefully, will lead to a treatment of patients with ALS," said Robberecht. "I am delighted and honored to receive this award. I want to emphasize that my research is a collaborative effort and I would like to dedicate this award to all researchers in my laboratory and all my collaborators. I especially want to thank the many ALS patients who volunteered to take part in the epidemiological, genetic and treatment studies. Receiving this award is a very strong encouragement to continue my research in hopes of contributing to the development of a treatment for ALS." Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the ALS Association, this award is supported through the philanthropy of the Essey family. The 60th Annual Meeting, one of the world's largest gatherings of neurology professionals, takes place in the McCormick Place West Convention Center in Chicago. The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com. - http://www.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_65.pdf ababb@aan.com Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:00:17 GMT 1 http://www.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_94.pdf Media Contacts: Angela Babb, ababb@aan.com, (651) 695-2789 Rachel Seroka, rseroka@aan.com, (651) 695-2738 AAN Launches New Book Series to Help Patients and Caregivers ST. PAUL, Minn. - Following up on the success of Neurology Now&reg;, the free and award-winning patient and caregiver magazine of the American Academy of Neurology, the Academy has announced plans to launch a new series of books for neurology patients and caregivers in 2009 to be called Neurology Now Books&trade;. The Academy has expanded its publishing division, AAN Press, to publish this new book series. Titles planned to publish in the Neurology Now Books&trade; series include coping with multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, and taste and smell disorders in the first year. A fourth publication is also planned for late next year. "With one in six people now affected by a neurologic disorder, there's tremendous demand for the latest information on how to best meet the needs of this fast-growing population of patients and caregivers. Neurology Now Books&trade; will fulfill this growing demand," said Lisa M. Shulman, MD, Editor of Neurology Now Books&trade;, and a neurologist with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. "With the experience the Academy has had in publishing Neurology Now&reg; magazine, it's sought to advance patient care and has developed an appreciation for the needs and concerns of neurology patients and caregivers. Neurology Now Books&trade; will continue to further our mission of improving patient care and public understanding of disorders of the brain and nervous system," said Shulman. Each issue of Neurology Now&reg; magazine reaches nearly one million readers. It is the only consumer magazine in the country devoted to the management of the range of neurologic disorders. The magazine offers information on treatment and cutting-edge research for such neurologic disorders as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, migraine, Parkinson's disease and more. For information on receiving a free subscription to Neurology Now&reg; magazine, visit www.neurologynow.com. AAN Press through Demos Medical Publishing published an earlier series of books for neurology patients and caregivers that will continue to be available for purchase via the AAN Store&trade;. Other AAN Press publications are Neurology&reg;, the most widely read and highly cited peer-reviewed neurology journal, Neurology Now&reg; magazine, and Neurology Today&reg;. The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com. http://www.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_94.pdf ababb@aan.com Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:04:51 GMT 1 http://www.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_53.pdf FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Angela Babb, (651) 695-2789, ababb@aan.com Rachel Seroka, (651) 695-2738, rseroka@aan.com AAN Foundation and The ALS Association Honor Philadelphia researcher for ALS Research CHICAGO - The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Foundation and The ALS Association awarded the 2008 AAN Foundation/ALS Association Clinician-Scientist Development Fellowship to Alice Chen-Plotkin, MD, with the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, for her work on a protein called TDP-43, which is seen in both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a type of dementia called frontotemporal dementia. The two-year, $160,000 fellowship was formally presented during the American Academy of Neurology's 60th Annual Meeting in Chicago, held April 12-19, 2008. The AAN Foundation/ALS Association Clinician Scientist Development Fellowship is designed to encourage ALS clinical research with the goal of providing better treatment, prevention or cure for the disorder. The award is part of The Association's TREAT ALS&trade; program. Chen-Plotkin's grant proposed a study using genome-wide technology to study gene expression in ALS. Little is known about TDP-43, but previous studies suggest it may play a role in regulating the expression of genes. The research will describe the patterns of abnormal gene expression seen in the brains of people with ALS. "We expect these patterns to be particularly different in patients with ALS, because the abnormal TDP-43 seen in these diseases may cause improper expression in hundreds of other genes," Chen-Plotkin said. "We hope that by understanding the genome-wide expression of genes in ALS and the contribution of TDP-43 to regulating this process, we can find early clues to the causes of disease. This, in turn, might lead to the development of effective therapies." The fellowship includes tuition reimbursement for education in clinical research methodology. The American Academy of Neurology Foundation works with the American Academy of Neurology to support research for the prevention, treatment and cure of neurologic disorders. The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. For more information, visit www.aan.com. The mission of The ALS Association is to lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global, cutting-edge research, and to empower people with Lou Gehrig's disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. For more information, visit www.alsa.org. http://www.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_53.pdf ababb@aan.com Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:05:20 GMT 1 http://www.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_1962.pdf New guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology identify the most effective treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often called Lou Gehrig's disease. The guidelines are published in the October 13, 2009, issue of Neurology&reg;, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. "While we are waiting for a cure, people need to know that a lot can be done to make life easier and longer for people with ALS," said lead guidelines author Robert G. Miller, MD, with the Department of Neurology at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. ALS is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurologic disease that attacks the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles. Eventually people with ALS are not able to stand or walk, or use their hands and arms, and they have difficulty breathing and swallowing. Most people with ALS die within three to five years from the onset of symptoms. However, about 10 percent survive for 10 or more years. According to the guidelines, the drug riluzole should be offered to people with ALS to slow the rate at which the disease progresses. Riluzole is the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ALS and has a modest effect on prolonging survival. The guidelines also state that life expectancy will likely increase and quality of life may increase for people with ALS who use an assisted-breathing device. Longer life expectancy is also likely for people with ALS who use a feeding tube known as a PEG tube, since nutrition plays a critical role in prolonging survival. The guidelines also recommend doctors consider offering their patients botulinum toxin B to treat sialorrhea, also known as drooling, if oral medications do not help. Moreover, doctors should consider screening their patients for behavioral or thinking problems because studies show many people with ALS have these problems. Such problems might affect some patients' willingness to accept suggested treatments. "Important treatments available for people with ALS are often not suggested by doctors and not used by patients," said Miller. "It's important that people with ALS know that more treatments are now available to ease the burden of the disease and that they should see neurologists who are aware of these new guidelines and follow them." In addition, the guidelines recommend people with ALS enroll early in a specialized multidisciplinary ALS clinic to optimize care. "Attending a multidisciplinary clinic will likely increase survival and access to treatments, and may improve quality of life," said Miller. The cause of ALS is not known, and it's not yet known why ALS strikes some people and not others. The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as epilepsy, dystonia, migraine, Huntington's disease and dementia. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or http://www.thebrainmatters.org. http://www.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_1962.pdf ababb@aan.com Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:00:00 GMT