Articles of Interest to People with ALS

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions
Responding to the reader
What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
Story by Laura Ly

Feature on ALS and the University of Alberta ALS Clinic
http://www.aihealthsolutions.ca/researchnews/2011/fall/responding/


An attack on all fronts
By Raquel Maurier, September 16, 2011

Recently published studies by a researcher in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta demonstrate that Amyotrophic lateral sclerosiscommonly known as Lou Gehrigs diseasedamages neurons in parts of the brain responsible for cognition and behaviour.

Sanjay Kalra, a researcher in the facultys Division of Neurology and a practising neurologist, has published two papers this year in the American Journal of Neuroradiology providing evidence that ALS affects more than just the motor cortex, the part of the brain responsible for motor function. 

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ALS Findings may lead to future treatments
By Carly Weeks - Globe and Mail
Published on August 21, 2011

Researchers have discovered a common problem that leads to all forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an important finding that could potentially lead to future treatment breakthroughs for the fatal neurodegenerative disease.
*Denise Figlewicz, VP of Research, ALS Canada is interviewed*
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS):
The Diagnosis and Treatment of this Debilitating Disease
This article by Dr Andrew Eisen, Vancouver, BC, was originally published in Geriatrics and Aging
Originally published in: Volume 3, Number 9, November 2000
In 1869, French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot first described a rapidly progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease. This disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou-Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the patient's motor neurons; typically the patient is paralyzed or deceased within 2 to 5 years of the initial diagnosis. Currently, approximately 3000 Canadians suffer from this tragic disease.
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ALS/MND: The Dangers of Unproven "Therapies"
All of those involved in ALS/MND, be they health professionals, care-givers and, most of all, patients with ALS/MND, are only too aware of the grave significance and implications of the disease. This results in a variable degree of desperation which makes all three vulnerable to try anything, for what is there to lose? There are several categories of drug therapy.
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Dr Heather Durham, a researcher in Montreal who is funded by our Neuroluscular Research Partnership, has kindly given us permission to post her presentation ALS RESEARCH - YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW. 
(It is a Power point presentation and requires Microsoft PowerPoint to view.)