Podcast: Unraveling the Mysteries of ALS
Dr. Michael Benatar is studying people genetically predisposed to ALS to identify ways to prevent the disease.
ALS Center Director Dr. Michael Benatar is studying people genetically predisposed to ALS to identify ways to prevent the disease.
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a profoundly complex and destructive disease, characterized by the progressive loss of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord which enable muscle movement. It steals the body’s strength and challenges nearly every aspect of life. There is currently no known cure, but groundbreaking research is offering hope.
Michael Benatar, M.D., Ph.D., Walter Bradley Chair in ALS Research and chief of the Neuromuscular Division at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, joined the latest “Inside U Miami Medicine” podcast episode to share the latest in discovery and clinical care. The core of Dr. Benatar’s research lies in the quest for early intervention.
By focusing on pre-symptomatic individuals, especially those genetically predisposed to the disease, he and his team are identifying markers such as neurofilament levels that can predict disease onset. These insights could revolutionize the therapeutic landscape, allowing for preventative measures before symptoms manifest.
“Our greatest insights come from the genetic realm,” said Dr. Benatar, also the executive director of the ALS Center at the Miller School. “We are finding ways, through people who are genetically at risk, to study that population and to determine opportunities for early therapeutic intervention, perhaps even pre-symptomatic intervention that might be preventative.”
Tune in to unravel the mysteries of ALS and hear about the resilience exhibited by scientists, clinicians and patients confronting this formidable disease.
Tags: ALS, ALS Center, Dr. Michael Benatar, neurology