Namsos

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS is a severe and fast-progressing nervous system disease with a typical survival time of about 2.5 years after diagnosis. Currently, Riluzole is the only treatment available, and the care for advanced ALS is very costly. Research suggests that increasing access to Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide NAD and activating enzymes called sirtuins might slow disease progression. Nicotinamide riboside NR increases NAD, and Pterostilbene stimulates sirtuins. The study aims to evaluate whether a combination of NR and Pterostilbene can slow neurodegeneration, delay disease progression, improve survival, and enhance quality of life in ALS patients. This extension study follows patients who completed the initial NO-ALS trial, where all participants receive the combination supplement EH301 Nicotinamide Riboside and Pterostilbene. It is an open-label study offering compassionate use and monitoring adverse events. The study will assess if this combination can reduce motor symptom progression, preserve lung function, and increase survival over a one-year follow-up. Participants who completed the original NO-ALS trial will be followed for one year with regular assessments. Researchers will monitor adverse events throughout this period and measure disease progression using the ALS Functional Rating Scale Revised and changes in vital lung capacity. The study aims to provide long-term safety and efficacy data while allowing continued access to the supplement. Total participation duration is one year from enrollment in the extension study.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a home-based smartphone app biofeedback treatment called Cerebri-TTH for adults with frequent and chronic tension type headache TTH. The study involves 300 adults diagnosed with TTH to compare this biofeedback treatment against a wait-list control group. The main goal is to assess changes in headache intensity and duration measured by the Area-Under-the-headache-Curve AUC from baseline to the end of treatment. Participants in the treatment group use the Cerebri-TTH device daily for 10-minute biofeedback sessions over 12 weeks. This device includes two sensors one placed on the trapezius muscle to measure muscle tension and another on the index finger to track heart rate, heart rate variability, and skin temperature. The wait-list group does not receive treatment during the initial 12 weeks but completes daily headache diaries and is offered treatment in a later extension phase. Both groups maintain daily diary entries throughout the study. Participants undergo a 4-week baseline period of daily headache diaries before randomization. After the treatment or wait-list period, follow-up includes telephone contacts and final visits. An optional 12-week extension allows continued diary recording for both groups. The study measures headache frequency, intensity, duration, medication use, anxiety, depression symptoms, and device safety over up to 38 weeks of observation.

Researchers are evaluating the Invest in Play iiP program to see if it can reduce problem behaviors in children aged 6 to 12 and improve parenting practices. The study compares families participating in the iiP program with those receiving usual care. Participants are randomly assigned to either group to assess the programs impact on child behavior and parenting. The iiP program involves 12 weekly group sessions led by two trained leaders, designed for parents of children with behavioral challenges. The control group continues with their usual care, which may include further assessments, school meetings, individual care, or psychoeducation. The study period for the intervention lasts 12 weeks. Participants complete surveys before and after the program to measure changes in child behaviors using the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory and other tools. Researchers also assess social competence, quality of life, family adjustment, parental stress, cognition, and emotion regulation. The main outcome is the change in child behavior scores from baseline to the end of the 12-week treatment period.

This research aims to explore the genetic causes related to the development of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS in Norway. The study focuses on individuals diagnosed with probable or definite ALS according to the El-Escorial criteria. Understanding genetic factors may help in better characterizing the disease and its risk factors over time. Participants diagnosed with ALS will be followed through the Norwegian health-care system. After giving informed consent, they will complete a brief questionnaire about their family history and provide a blood sample. These samples, along with clinical information and consent forms, are sent to the Department of Medical Genetics at Telemark Hospital Trust for ongoing genetic analysis throughout the recruitment period. Participants may choose to receive their genetic results as part of a diagnostic process. During the study, participants will be involved in providing blood samples and completing questionnaires. Researchers will analyze genetic data to identify gene frequency, new ALS genes, and genetic risk factors between 2020 and 2030. The study involves observation only, with no additional treatments. Participation includes genetic testing and data collection to better understand ALS genetics, with the study continuing until 2035.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of personalized exercise treatment on dynamic balance and physical function compared to regular follow-up care in adults with rare neuromuscular disorders, specifically Charcot-Marie-Tooth CMT, Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy FSHD, and Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 DM1. The study aims to see if the exercise intervention group experiences greater improvements in dynamic balance and long-term benefits compared to the control group receiving usual care. Participants in the experimental group will undergo a four-month exercise program that starts with a 12-day personalized exercise regimen at a rehabilitation center, followed by a three-month digital intervention, and then a second 12-day personalized exercise program at the rehabilitation center. The control group will continue with their usual care, which includes hospital and community health system appointments as recommended individually. During the study, participants will be assessed at baseline, 4 months, 10 months, and 16 months for dynamic balance using the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test Mini-BESTest and other measures such as fatigue severity, strength and function, metabolomics, body composition via Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry, neuromuscular ultrasound, physical activity, motor unit number estimation, and health-related quality of life questionnaires. The study involves 120 individuals and includes long-term follow-up for the intervention group to monitor sustained effects.