November 2025 Foundation eNews - Les Turner ALS Foundation

New clue links ALS and FTD to overactive neurons

A groundbreaking Northwestern University study, supported in part by the Les Turner ALS Foundation, has uncovered how a malfunctioning protein—TDP-43—causes nerve cells to overfire in ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The research reveals that this faulty protein disrupts the brain’s “brake” system, leading to overactive neurons that accelerate disease progression.

Led by Dr. Evangelos Kiskinis, the team also identified a potential solution: a gene-targeting antisense drug that restores neuron balance in lab-grown human cells. This promising therapy could one day slow or prevent progression in people with ALS or FTD.

Learn how these findings connect two hallmark features of ALS and FTD—and point to a new path forward for treatment.

Click the link below to read the full story

Join us this Saturday for All in for ALS Casino Night!

The wait is almost over—All in for ALS Casino Night returns this Saturday, November 15, at the East Bank Club from 7–10 p.m.! Join fellow young professionals for a lively evening featuring blackjack, roulette, and craps, exclusive auction items, delicious appetizers, and a photo booth to capture the fun.

Hosted by our Young ProfessionALS Group (YPG), this signature event celebrates community and honors those affected by ALS. Every spin, bid, and roll supports the Les Turner ALS Foundation’s mission to advance care, research, and hope for people living with ALS.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the excitement—tickets are almost sold out!

Advancing research and innovation at the Les Turner Symposium on ALS

The 15th Annual Les Turner Symposium on ALS, held November 3 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, brought together scientists, clinicians, and students from around the world to explore groundbreaking advances in ALS research.

This year’s keynote by Dr. Don Cleveland of UC San Diego spotlighted “designer DNA drugs”—a new generation of antisense therapies that may slow or even reverse inherited forms of ALS.

Now, you can experience the symposium yourself. Watch recorded presentations from Dr. Cleveland and other leading researchers as they share the latest discoveries, innovations, and collaborative efforts shaping the future of ALS care.

View the recordings of the symposium here

Military Veterans face a higher risk of developing ALS. In 2008, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) extended benefits to all Veterans with ALS who served more than 90 days of active duty—setting the stage for groundbreaking change.

Join Ileana Howard, MD, Medical Co-Director of the ALS Center of Excellence at VA Puget Sound, as she explores how the VA has transformed ALS care nationwide—and why the National Academies recognized it as “a bright spot in the landscape of ALS care” in 2024.

This no-cost webinar is proudly offered by the Les Turner ALS Foundation, with support from the Gilbert & Jacqueline Fern Foundation and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America.

Register today

Guide Spotlight: ALS & Genetics

All people living with ALS—regardless of family history—should have the option of genetic counseling and testing. Understanding your genetic profile can offer valuable insight into care planning, eligibility for certain clinical trials, and implications for family members.

Our ALS & Genetics Guide walks you through this process step by step, explaining what to expect before, during, and after testing. It also helps you understand the potential benefits, limitations, and emotions that may come with learning your genetic results—and connects you to certified genetic counselors who can provide support along the way.

Empower yourself with knowledge and make an informed choice that fits your goals and values.

Explore the ALS & Genetics Guide, available in English and Spanish

In Our Thoughts

We offer our sincere condolences to all those who have lost a loved one to ALS. Today, and every day, we honor and remember them.

Jaqueline DeLeon
Janie Dispensa Gobeli
Kimberly Polk

We invite you to share a tribute—whether a story, memory, or photo— to our Celebration of Life memorial wall, keeping the legacy of your loved one alive and reminding others they are never forgotten.

Support ALS Care and Research

The Les Turner ALS Foundation exists to care for those affected by the disease, answer their questions, support them and their loved ones, and provide hope through scientific research at the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine.

Please make a gift so we can continue to deliver that care and support. Together, we will create a world free of ALS.