In animal models of ALS, a disease that causes paralysis and eventual death due to loss of upper and lower motor neurons, PPARγ agonists extend survival and attenuate motor neuron loss (Kiaei et al., 2005; Shibata et al., 2008). However, in a phase II double-blind controlled clinical trial, the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone did not increase survival in ALS patients (Dupuis et al., 2012).
