Reading Time: 4 minutesSome people with MND experience severe swallowing difficulties and it is estimated that over 50% of those with MND are affected by malnutrition and weight loss due to this. These factors are thought to be associated with increased disability and shortened survival, which is why nutrition remains one of the main challenges surrounding disease management. For those with MND who have severe swallowing difficulties, one of the long-term nutritional support options is a gastrostomy (a feeding tube that is inserted directly into the stomach to deliver food, fluids and some medications).
Author: Eleanor Green
I work in the Research Development team at the MND Association as a Senior Research Co-ordinator. I completed my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science and I became very interested in neuroscience throughout my degree. Following on from this, I did a Master’s degree in Molecular Medicine, with a focus on gene therapies. As part of my role, I identify interesting updates in MND research and communicate these via the blog in an understandable and engaging way.
Reading Time: 5 minutesResearch into MND has increased over recent years and we now have a greater understanding of what is happening within the body during the disease.
Reading Time: 2 minutesResearchers from King’s College London have recently completed a study looking into different variations (a change or mistake) within the SOD1 gene and found that understanding the position and type of change within the gene can help to predict onset and progression of the disease.
Reading Time: 5 minutes8 years ago, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science was created to improve gender equality in science and recognise the invaluable role
Reading Time: 5 minutes8 years ago, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science was created to improve gender equality in science and recognise the invaluable role women play. Each year the world comes together to celebrate inspirational women of the past, present, and future. While women continue to be under-represented in science globally, the conversation of gender equality in science is much louder than it was.
Reading Time: 5 minutesLast year was a really exciting year for MND clinical trials, with more trials recruiting in the UK than ever before, some promising results being
Reading Time: 4 minutesLast year was a really exciting year for MND clinical trials, with more trials recruiting in the UK than ever before, some promising results being
Reading Time: 3 minutesWhen you think of scientific research most people will immediately imagine a laboratory with scientists in white lab coats, however MND research takes many forms. As well as research that looks for effective treatments, it is also important to investigate ways to improve the well-being of people living with MND and their carers/family members.
Reading Time: 6 minutesIt has been suggested that there might be a pre-symptomatic stage of MND, where the disease is active and occurring within a person but no symptoms are showing. There is currently little research in this area and a lack of evidence of a pre-symptomatic stage of the disease. However, if it can be shown that there is a pre-symptomatic stage which can be measured, this could be very useful in helping people with MND to get treatment as early as possible. Dr Michael Benatar, from the University of Miami, has been looking into this by studying the development of MND and how the disease presents in people who have a high risk of developing it.
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe top-line results of the Modifying Immune Response and OutComes in ALS (MIROCALS) clinical trial were announced on 6 December 2022 at the 33rd International Symposium