The March 6, 2013 journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience presents a seminal and momentous paper, “The Changing Scene of ALS,” by neuroscientist and clinician Prof Wim Robberecht of the University of Leuven, Belgium, assisted by Thomas Phillips, now of Dr. Jeffrey Rothstein’s laboratory at Johns Hopkins University. This paper outlines the most current thoughts on the origins and future of ALS, and it offers enormous contributions to the scientific and patient communities.
In the words of Drs. Robberecht and Phillips, “Several recent breakthroughs have provided notable insights into the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with some even shifting our thinking about this neurodegenerative disease and raising the question as to whether this disorder is a proteinopathy, a ribonucleopathy or both. In addition, these breakthroughs have revealed mechanistic links between ALS and frontotemporal dementia, as well as between ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, such as the cerebellar atrophies, myotonic dystrophy and inclusion body myositis. Here, we summarize the new findings in ALS research, discuss what they have taught us about this disease and examine issues that are still outstanding.”
The entire paper can be read at The Changing Scene of ALS.
No comments yet.