Active clinical trials for "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis"

Use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV, also known colloquially as "Bipap") has been associated in some studies with improvement in pulmonary function, quality of life and survival. NIV is typically applied during sleep, and without the benefit of sleep study to determine the optimal settings. The investigators have shown that when NIV is used in this fashion, failure of nocturnal oxygenation and ventilation is prominent. This study is randomizing patients to standard application of NIV vs application guided by use of sleep study data to determine the effect of titrated therapy on pulmonary function, quality of life and survival.

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is an important therapy for patients with a number of neurological diseases. Specifically, NIV has been shown to be an effective treatment for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), which is a fatal, non-curable, progressive disease of the motor neurons. However, due to changes in facial structure associated with the disease, many ALS patients find that traditional NIV masks don't fit well. In this study, investigators will perform a feasibility study on NIV mask interfaces which are custom designed for each ALS patient and then manufactured via 3D printing.

The primary objective is to evaluate the effect, if any, of a single 50 mg dose of Riluzole Oral Soluble Film (ROSF) on swallowing safety in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

This is a Phase IIa, randomized, open-label, multi-center, multi-dose study for subjects with mild to moderate ALS. The protocol is designed to determine whether ALZT-OP1a treatment will positively impact neuro-inflammatory biomarkers and slow down or arrest functional decline in subjects with mild to moderate ALS.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or "Lou Gehrig's Disease", is a fatal disorder that causes progressive degeneration and weakening of the muscles of breathing, leading to breathing insufficiency and eventually breathing failure. This breathing insufficiency is commonly treated with a breathing assistance device, known as noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). While generally well tolerated and accepted, it is not clear whether or to what extent NIPPV in fact helps breathing function: some data suggest that NIPPV preserves breathing function over time, whereas other data suggest that it actually causes breathing function to decline more quickly. No studies have shown what the acute effect of NIPPV is on breathing muscle function in ALS patients. This study will test the hypothesis that the acute use of NIPPV, at pressure levels that are in common clinical use, will cause measurable changes in tests of breathing function, compared to baseline and to lower levels of NIPPV. We expect that the results of this study will help to clarify whether and to what extent NIPPV assists respiratory muscle function in patients with ALS.

Expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) is an emerging palliative intervention for prolonging pulmonary and swallow function in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS), but it is unknown whether EMST may result in detrimental immediate to short-term fatigue because there is no way to measure fatigue non-invasively. This study will determine the immediate to short-term impact of EMST on objective respiratory and swallow function, whether subjective ratings of dyspnea and fatigue map to objective decompensation of respiratory and swallow function, and the ability to monitor fatigue of the respiratory and swallowing musculature non-invasively. Findings from this research study will provide preliminary evidence regarding optimal timing for PALS to complete EMST and will provide PALS and clinicians increased capabilities to monitor fatigue non-invasively.

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)

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.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of central and peripheral motor neurons. ALS leads to death usually within 3 to 5 years from the onset of the symptoms. Available treatment can prolong the disease duration but cannot modify the disease course. Depression is a frequent complication of ALS, which further decreases quality of life and the available data concerning effectivity of antidepressant drugs are conflicting. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive method of modulation of brain plasticity with confirmed antidepressive effect. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of rTMS in improving the depression in patients with ALS with placebo stimulation. Intervention will include 10 daily sessions. In each session 3000 magnetic pulses will be administered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Assessment depression severity will be made before and after therapy, as well as two and four weeks later.

The effect of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells on duration of survival in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis patients.