Active clinical trials for "Motor Neuron Disease"

The literature to date indicates that noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) provides effective noninvasive ventilator support, prolongs survival, and improves quality of life (QOL) in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients. It is generally recommended to patients when their pulmonary function testing demonstrates a drop to 50% forced vital capacity (FVC). One result of using NIPPV may be a reduction in the work of the breathing which would lead to decreased caloric needs. However, the work of breathing and the effects of noninvasive ventilation on caloric use have not been studied in patients with ALS. This is extremely important since there may be a reduction in the caloric needs when ALS patients are placed on NIPPV and if the caloric intake is not adjusted, overfeeding can occur. Overfeeding with too many calories can lead to an increase in carbon dioxide which would actually worsen the respiratory failure. The overall aim of this project is to evaluate how many calories are used by ALS patients while at rest, when placed on NIPPV, and when breathing against a resistance. This will be accomplished using a metabolic cart during these activities. At present, the metabolic cart is routinely used in ALS patients at the time of feeding tube placement to calculate caloric needs. Using the cart to calculate the caloric expenditure on and off the ventilator will aid in calculating the work of breathing and the effects of NIPPV on work of breathing.

The overall goal of this research is to delay the respiratory decline of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) thereby increasing their lifespan by conditioning the diaphragm with laparoscopically placed electrodes. This device currently holds an Investigational Device Exemption No. G040142 in the United States and is currently undergoing clinical trials at University Hospitals (Cleveland), Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), Henry Ford Health System, The Methodist Hospital, and Stanford University.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether nine months of administration of creatine monohydrate results in an increase in muscle strength in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

This is a prospective, open-label, phase 1/2a study, dose escalation, to evaluate tolerability, safety, and PK of I.V. administered IPL344 in participants with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Our working hypothesis is that the injection of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) has a positive effect on the natural loss of motor units and on the increase in the size of the motor unit that occurs in patients with ALS during the evolution of the disease

Herein, the investigators study the safety and efficacy of transplanting purified autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells transplanted via the intrathecal route by interventional radiology and the intravenous route.

The goal of this study is to investigate the safety and tolerability of allogeneic Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells administration in the individuals with diagnosed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and eventual death. Studies demonstrate that the immune system plays a key role in ALS progression; however, the role of the immune system is unclear, as various aspects can play both a beneficial and detrimental role in the disease course. Attempts to universally suppress the immune system in ALS patients have at best had negligible effects on progression or at worst accelerated the disease. Thus, there is a critical need to identify immune cell populations to serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neuromuscular disease that results in rapid decline in normal muscle function and tone leading to difficulties with mobility, eating, drinking, breathing, sleeping, and communicating. The disease is progressive and no cure currently exists. Most people diagnosed with ALS succumb within 3 to 5 years. The only approved treatment to slow the progression of ALS is called Rilutek® (riluzole) which has only a modest effect and has been shown to increase survival by a few months. Muscular dysfunction present in people with ALS is caused by nerve breakdown and a dysfunction in the communication between the muscles and the nerves. The area where these communications occur is called the neuromuscular junction. Some recent studies have focused on using different medications to enhance communication at the neuromuscular junction with the goal of improving muscle function as a result. This approach is unproven but may help to slow the progression of the disease. Pimozide is a medication that has been demonstrated to enhance communication at the neuromuscular junction in fish and mice. This study will look at whether Pimozide may help to slow the progression of ALS and how much medication needs to be taken to have an effect.

This study will look at whether Pimozide may help to slow the progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. 100 people from several Canadian centres with ALS who have provided their consent will be randomly assigned into one of 2 groups. The first group will receive a dose of up to 2mg of Pimozide per day and the second group will receive placebo (lactose tablets). Subjects will be assigned randomly (like by a flip of a coin) to receive either Pimozide 2 mg per day or placebo tablets. There will be a fifty-fifty chance of receiving Pimozide or placebo. Participants will be on study medication up to 22 weeks, and on study up to 26 weeks. There are 8 clinic visits and 1 phone visit over the course of the Treatment Phase of the study. The second phase which is Observational, is optional with follow-up for up to 5 years from the end of the Treatment Phase.