Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41776147›Full record

ArticleNeurology and therapy2026

Exploring the Lived Experiences of Individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): A Qualitative Study and Conceptual Model of Signs, Symptoms, and Functional Impacts.

William B Nowell, Nadine McGale, Oren Levy, Sarah Wilding, Phoebe Heinrich, Nick C Patel, Jinsy A Andrews, Diana Rofail

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Article in Neurology and therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

William B NowellRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1 Rockwood Road, Sleepy Hollow, NY, 10591, USA. william.nowell@regeneron.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4951-6476
Nadine McGaleModus Outcomes, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Oren LevyRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1 Rockwood Road, Sleepy Hollow, NY, 10591, USA.
Sarah WildingModus Outcomes, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Phoebe HeinrichModus Outcomes, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Nick C PatelRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1 Rockwood Road, Sleepy Hollow, NY, 10591, USA.
Jinsy A AndrewsDepartment of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Diana RofailRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1 Rockwood Road, Sleepy Hollow, NY, 10591, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThis study aimed to explore the experience of living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to develop a conceptual model for this rare disease.

methodsConcept elicitation interviews were conducted (January-September 2024) with people living with ALS (PLwALS; n = 31), caregivers (n = 20), and clinicians (n = 10). Qualitative data were analyzed separately to develop a conceptualization of the experience of living with ALS. Concept saturation was assessed every 5-6 interviews, and a conceptual model was developed.

resultsThe mean age of PLwALS was 42.4 years (standard deviation [SD] 11.5), 81% were female, 84% were white, and 23% had SOD1-ALS. The mean time since diagnosis was 4.6 years (SD 4.2); mean normed Rasch Overall ALS Disability Scale score was 76 (SD 17.16). Signs, symptoms, and functions reported during PLwALS interviews included neuromuscular, bulbar, speech, neurocognitive (e.g., memory issues), and a range of physical functioning issues (e.g., motor coordination). PLwALS also reported impacts on a range of activities and psychosocial interactions (e.g., eating, depressed mood, and relationships), alongside management strategies they employed. Interviews with caregivers and clinicians supported findings from the PLwALS interviews. Caregivers also identified signs such as drooling/excess salivation, and impacts related to ALS management (e.g., need for writing aids). Clinicians additionally considered loss of speech and neurocognitive signs (e.g., behavior/personality change) as ALS clinical manifestations. Concept saturation was reached, and a consolidated, comprehensive conceptual model was developed.

conclusionThis research provides a holistic understanding of the experience of living with ALS and is the first conceptual model based on in-depth concept elicitation interviews. The findings highlight the range of signs, symptoms, and impacts that PLwALS experience, emphasizing its serious humanistic impact and high unmet need, and will help to guide patient-centric evaluation of clinical outcome assessments in future ALS studies.

Indexed as

ALSConceptual modelPatient-centered outcomes research

Identifiers

PMID41776147
PMCPMC13172171

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.