Recent ALS Research in Action

Dartmouth Hitchcock's ALS Center was recently in the news for its ongoing research about a possible connection between ALS and the toxin produced by cyanobacteria which is commonly found in algae blooms on large bodies of water during the summer. Researchers Elijah Stommel, MD, and Tracie Caller, MD, have been quick to caution the public that their research is preliminary and that people should not be unduly alarmed. However, the cluster of cases they have been investigating could provide vital understanding of a possible environmental cause of this debilitating and ultimately fatal disease.

Scientists Study Whether There's Any Link Between Lou Gehrig's Disease and Water Quality
New Hampshire Public Radio – June 15, 2009

About the ALS Center at DHMC

The ALS Center at DHMC is dedicated to providing excellence in clinical care for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), researching the causes and finding treatments for the condition, and providing education for patients, families, students, and health professionals. The center, established in 2005, encompasses a comprehensive care ALS clinic and research laboratories studying the condition at Dartmouth Medical School.

ALS is a disease affecting the nervous system leading to paralysis and death for everyone diagnosed. Roughly 30,000 people in the U.S. alone have the condition, and the average lifespan upon diagnosis is between three and five years. ALS is considered an "orphan" disease, and there is neither a cure nor effective treatment at this time.

DHMC has recently been recognized by the National ALS Association as a certified center for managing affected patients.