Experimental treatment brings hope to ALS patients

Neil Shneider, MD, PhD, Claire Tow Professor of Motor Neuron Disorders in the Department of Neurology and Director of the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center at Columbia University, is a scientist and physician who specializes in genetic forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). About 35,000 people in the U.S. have ALS, and about 10% to 15% of patients have a genetic form of the disease. One of Dr. Shneider’s patients, Jeff Vierstra, has a rare ALS gene mutation that runs in his family. He has already lost his mother and two sisters to the disease. In an interview with CBS Saturday Morning, Vierstra, a scientist himself, shares his story and reports promising results from an experimental treatment he has been receiving under Dr. Shneider’s care for the past three years. While there is no cure yet, Dr. Shneider said, “I think there’s real hope and opportunity to make this a livable disease, one that isn’t fatal.” [read more] [watch video]

Source: CBS News