The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) issued a request for input recently to help guide its work supporting ALS research. The ALS Association is submitting input telling the agency that speed matters. We are encouraging NINDS and the rest of NIH to focus to find ways to use research to advance the health of people with ALS as quickly as possible.

In most people’s journey living with ALS, they will be faced with the decision of using a feeding tube to help maintain proper nutrition and enhance their quality of life. The following resources have been developed to provide you with the knowledge you need to help make this decision with the minimum amount of stress and difficulty. 

The Institute of Clinical and Economic Review, commonly known as ICER, has opened a review of AMX0035 to determine the cost-effectiveness of the drug. The ALS Association is committed to making sure ICER’s review does not discriminate against people with ALS and that its analysis does not prevent people with ALS from accessing promising treatments.

Despite all that ALS has taken from me, I still try to maintain a positive attitude and try to enjoy each day. I have much to be thankful for. Instead of dwelling on things I can no longer do, I try to focus my time and energy on things I can still do.

We recently spoke with Joan and Tony Nolting about their personal experience living with ALS and attending an ALS Association Certified Center of Excellence. After experiencing mild breathing symptoms and slurred speech, Tony was diagnosed with bulbar onset ALS in September of 2020, just five days after his 63rd birthday.

My husband Russ and I were married in 1984 and were raising our boys Kyle and Dylan in the home Russ and my father had built together. Life was good. Until ALS upended everything.

Each member of the team at an ALS multidisciplinary clinic plays an important role in delivering critical care for people living with ALS and their families. Association-wide liaisons work closely with ALS clinics nationwide, ensuring each patient’s unique needs and wishes are being addressed throughout their journey living with ALS. We recently spoke with Suzanne Schrag, senior director of care services for The ALS Association Rocky Mountain Chapter, and clinic liaison to ALS multidisciplinary clinics across Colorado and Utah.

While there are many moving parts within an ALS multidisciplinary clinic, each team member plays an important role in delivering critical care for people living with ALS and their families. The leader of the team is the medical director, providing the professional guidance and support necessary to meet the unique needs of each patient throughout their journey living with ALS.

From the latest updates on ALS research and advocacy to information about caring for people living with ALS and stories from around the country, the Association’s blog covered it all. Here is a quick look at the top 10 features our readers enjoyed most.

The work detailed in this report covers the entirety of our mission to create a world without ALS, from expanding the research pipeline, to working to bring the best care possible to people living with ALS and their caregivers to fighting for increased federal funding for ALS research and public policies that improve the quality of life for people living with ALS.

My parents had been married less than two years when my dad was diagnosed. Of course, making a decision regarding whether or not to start a family was difficult at the time, but due to their faith and positive outlook, they chose to do so. Had they not shared the same optimism, my older brother John would not be here, and I would not be writing this today. To say that I am thankful for their decision is an understatement. My dad has had a long battle with ALS and is still fighting after 26 years.

Steve realized he needed to turn to his faith to help him live with ALS. Steve assembled a team and got to work developing ALS Family of Faith, a new ministry designed to meet the needs of those looking for prayer and spiritual counseling during their journey with ALS.

Thanks to the hard work of ALS advocates, Congress has passed the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies (ACT) for ALS Act after a unanimous vote in the Senate. The bill previously passed in the House 423-2. The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Biden.

People with ALS and their caregivers who participated in a recent ALS Focus survey said that telehealth appointments improved their quality of life by saving them time and money, and that the appointments are just as good as in-person health care visits.

Connecting ALS recently sat down with Ann Larson to learn more about her experience as an ALS caregiver for her beloved husband Dave, and better understand the challenges she encountered during their three-year journey with the disease.

Holiday celebrations are times of fun, fellowship and of course, food. And, while the holidays are meant to be enjoyed, they can also be a tremendous stressor for people living with ALS and their families. Learn tips to help enjoy the holidays and delicious easy chew, easy swallow recipes the whole family will enjoy.

My husband’s ALS journey is not unique. It started with weakness in his left leg, and a few other puzzling issues which he began to note around 2010. We didn’t do anything about it until October 2012, when things got more puzzling.

When your loved one receives a diagnosis of ALS, you transition into a new role as a caregiver. This may happen gradually over time, or quickly, catching you off guard and possibly unprepared. Regardless of where you are in your caregiving journey, who better to accept advice, guidance and emotional support from than other families and caregivers who are living through similar experiences?

The Allied Professionals Forum is almost here - an educational and training event where hundreds of allied health professionals come together from around the world. Its two days of extensive presentations, networking, and workshops that always leaves us feeling exhausted but at the same time re-energized and rejuvenated from hearing about all the amazing work being done around the world.

I can’t will the leaves to hold on to the tree for much longer, I know that. Soon, we will all have to let go. But for now, in the month of Thanksgiving, we just hang on. We continue to thank God for the gift of time and each other. But when the day comes and her spirit no longer fills that room, I surely will never be the same.