Acetylcholine Receptors From Human Muscles as Pharmacological Target for ALS

Summary

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease leading to motor neuron degeneration and progressive paralysis. Other studies have revealed defects in skeletal muscle even in absence of motor neuron anomalies, focusing on acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) and supporting the so-called "dying-back" hypothesis. Outcome of this study will be to understand if the endocannabinoid palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) can reduce the rundown of AChRs currents in ALS muscle, and if it can modify ALS patients' clinical and electrophysiological parameters.

Timeline

Start

2014-01

Primary completion

2015-06

Completion

2015-12

Drugs

Indications