Researchers identify a potential window for treating ALS
Written by sidhanta
Written by sidhanta
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects as many as 30,000 people in the United States, with 5,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
It weakens muscles over time, impacting physical function and ultimately leading to death.
However, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have found a possible window of opportunity during ALS treatment to target astrocyte abnormalities—a subtype of cells in the central nervous system
The research team believes that astrocytes are actively involved in the death of motor neurons, which are cells in the brain and spinal cord that allow people to move, speak,
"We think this is particularly important because the astrocyte dysfunction is active after symptom onset in patients with ALS," says Nicholas Maragakis, M.D.,
Nicholas Maragakis, M.D., professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and medical director of the Johns Hopkins ALS clinical trials unit.
The research team believes that astrocytes are actively involved in the death of motor neurons, which are cells in the brain and spinal cord that allow people to move, speak,
Major Birth Defects Linked With Fathers’ Use of Diabetes Drug
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