September Is Recovery Month

Every September, the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) observes Recovery Month.  The goal is to promote the societal benefits of treatment for substance use and mental disorders, celebrate people in recovery, recognize treatment providers and spread the message that recovery is possible.  As the SAMHSA slogan says, “Prevention works, treatment is effective… Continue reading September Is Recovery Month

Help Patients Live Well with ALS

In February, we told you about veteran ALS member SmoothS and his efforts to bring to life the first and only fully automated, skilled service residence specializing in ALS. The Leonard Florence Center for Living opened in November 2010 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and now SmoothS is working on bringing his groundbreaking concept to other cities.… Continue reading Help Patients Live Well with ALS

Photo of the Week: Newly Diagnosed Patients in Motion

For a newly diagnosed patient, organizing a run/walk/bike team sponsored by PatientsLikeMeInMotion can be a way to take action, “go public” and make new connections. Please meet Monkey Mamma, who was diagnosed with epilepsy last year, at the Epilepsy Foundation‘s Stroll for Epilepsy on April 9, 2011, in Dallas, Texas. Congrats to Monkey Mamma and all… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Newly Diagnosed Patients in Motion

PatientsLikeMe’s Catherine Brownstein, PhD, MPH, Wins “Young Investigator Award” from the 12th International Congress of Human Genetics

The spotlight is on PatientsLikeMe’s research team this week – and deservedly so. On Tuesday, Research Director Paul Wicks, PhD, was named “Humanitarian of the Year” and a TR35 Honoree by MIT Technology Review. Now, we are extremely proud to announce that PatientsLikeMe Research Scientist Catherine Brownstein, PhD, MPH, has won a Young Investigator Award… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe’s Catherine Brownstein, PhD, MPH, Wins “Young Investigator Award” from the 12th International Congress of Human Genetics

Photo of the Week: Pedaling for Parkinson’s

Meet Cidney, a PatientsLikeMe member with Parkinson’s disease who recently took part in RAGBRAI (The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). Started in 1973, this annual seven-day bicycle ride is the oldest, largest and longest event of its kind. Here’s what Cidney, who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, says about her experience: “Well I… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Pedaling for Parkinson’s

PatientsLikeMe’s Paul Wicks Ph.D. Named Humanitarian of the Year and TR35 Honoree by MIT Technology Review

CAMBRIDGE, MA–(Marketwire – Aug 23, 2011) – Today, PatientsLikeMe‘s Research Director, Paul Wicks Ph.D., was named a TR35 Honoree and spotlighted as Humanitarian of the Year by MIT Technology Review magazine, which profiled him in an in-depth article and video. The TR35 list recognizes the world’s top innovators under the age of 35, spanning medicine, energy, computing, communications,… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe’s Paul Wicks Ph.D. Named Humanitarian of the Year and TR35 Honoree by MIT Technology Review

What Do You Know About Psoriasis?

Last week, we told you about the Spotlight on Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Online Film Festival and how you could participate. But for those of you who don’t have psoriasis and don’t know much about it, we wanted to tell you a little more about this chronic condition as August is Psoriasis Awareness Month. An… Continue reading What Do You Know About Psoriasis?

ALS and Athleticism: What Have We Learned?

“Clinicians are used to seeing ALS patients who are or have been athletic. So is there a link, and if so, could exercise have a direct effect on the condition?”– BMJ Group Podcasts In 2010, PatientsLikeMe researchers collaborated with the University of Oxford Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Centre in the UK on a study about… Continue reading ALS and Athleticism: What Have We Learned?

I Will Not Be Quiet: An Interview with ALS Advocate Debra Quinn

Debra Quinn’s father, sister, aunt, grandmother and great aunt all passed away from ALS, and in 2009, she was diagnosed with ALS herself.  This hereditary form of the disease is called familial ALS (fALS). After the loss of her younger sister in 2007, Debra decided that she could no longer stay silent.Today, she is “the… Continue reading I Will Not Be Quiet: An Interview with ALS Advocate Debra Quinn

Photo of the Week: Wheels in Motion

A number of our ALS and PLS members use wheelchairs, but that doesn’t keep them from participating in awareness walks sponsored by PatientsLikeMeInMotion. Please meet Power Mom, a grandmother of six who led a team at the Walk to Defeat ALS in Long Island, New York. Congrats to Power Mom and all of our sponsored teams… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Wheels in Motion