Ice Bucket Challenge Research Articles

Potential role of solid lipid curcumin particle (SLCP) as estrogen replacement therapy in mitigating TDP-43-related neuropathy in the mouse model of ALS disease

BackgroundAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was first identified in 1869, but it wasn't until the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge that widespread attention was drawn to the disease. Since then, substantial research has been dedicated to developing treatments for ALS. Despite this, only three drugs - riluzole, edaravone and AMX0035, have been approved for clinical use, and they can only temporarily alleviate mild symptoms without significant disease modification or cure. Therefore, there remains a critical unmet need to identify disease modifying or curative therapies for ALS. The higher incidence and more severe progression of ALS and FTLD (frontotemporal lobar degeneration) observed in men and postmenopausal woman compared to young women suggests that sex hormones may significantly influence disease onset and progression. In both animal models and human clinical studies, 17β estradiol (E2) has been shown to delay and improve the outcomes of many neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we examined the role of TDP-43 in the regulation of estrogen-related enzymes, CYP19A1 and CYP3A4. In addition, we examined the impact of curcumin on the regulation of estrogen E2 levels and TDP-43-associated neuropathy as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of FTLD and ALS. MethodsPrp-TDP-43A315T mice was used as a model of ALS/FTLD to examine the expression patterns of E2 and its biosynthesis and degradation enzymes, CYP19A1 and CYP3A4. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms and the potency of solid lipid curcumin particles (SLCP) as an E2 replacement therapy for TDP-43 associated neuropathy was analyzed. We further examined the survival rates and the pathological TDP43 patterns in female and male Prp-TDP-43A315T mice administrated with or without SLCP. In addition, the changed expression levels of enzymes corresponding to E2 biosynthesis and degradation in the spinal cord of female and male Prp-TDP-43A315T mice with or without SLCP were determined. ResultsWe found that in addition to E2, the expression patterns of CYP19A1 and CYP3A4 proteins differed between Prp-TDP-43A315T mice compared to wild-type control, suggesting that toxic phosphorylated TDP43 oligomers may disrupt the balance between CYP19A1 and CYP3A4 expression, leading to reduced estrogen biosynthesis and accelerated degradation. In addition, we found that oral administration of SLCP prolonged the survival rates in female Prp-TDP-43A315T mice and significantly reduced the pathological insoluble phosphorylated TDP-43 species. Furthermore, SLCP attenuated disease progression associated with TDP-43-related neuropathies through modulating estrogen biosynthesis and the activity of CYP450 enzymes. ConclusionsOur results showed that Prp-TDP-43A315T mice exhibit altered estradiol levels. Moreover, we demonstrated the efficacy of SLCP as an estrogen replacement therapy in mitigating TDP-43-associated disease progression and pathogenesis. These findings suggest that SLCP could be a promising strategy to induce E2 expression for the treatment of ALS and FTLD.

Social media charity campaigns and pro-social behaviour. Evidence from the Ice Bucket Challenge

Social media charity campaigns and pro-social behaviour. Evidence from the Ice Bucket Challenge

Analysis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Clinical Trials Posted on www.clinicaltrials.gov from 1999–2022. (P10-8.011)

<h3>Objective:</h3> To create a database of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) clinical trials on www.clinicaltrials.gov and analyze trends over the past three decades. <h3>Background:</h3> ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the brain and spinal cord neurons with a typical lifespan of 3–5 years from symptom onset. Clinical trials have evolved over the past three decades as more awareness and research funding have been dedicated to understanding and treating ALS, partially due to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014. A review of the evolution of study design and parameters over time provides insights into the future of clinical trials and is reflective of improvements in the science. <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> “ALS” and “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis” were searched on www.clinicaltrial.gov in August 2022. A database was created to capture information on trials: year posted, study type, primary endpoints, and inclusion criteria. <h3>Results:</h3> The term ALS had 777 results and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis had 891 results, for a total of 954 unique clinical trials from 1999 to 2022. Two hundred and seventy-three trials were removed due to non-ALS trials (other neurological disorders, drug name with ALS, or advanced life support) and 681 were analyzed. Thirty-four countries were represented with the United States (n=288, 43%), France (n=71, 11%), and Italy (n=28, 4.1%) having the highest number. The largest number of new trials posted in one year was in 2021 with 81. Forty-eight percent of studies are completed, and 146 (21%) are actively recruiting. Length of time to primary endpoint ranged between one day to ten years. 40% of studies did not specify ALS diagnostic criteria for eligibility and 4% required genetic testing. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Analyzing current and past trends of ALS clinical trials will help guide future trial designs in the hopes to optimize ALS outcomes and trials. <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Zelikovich has nothing to disclose. Eric Anderson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rubin has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for NeuroAlert. Dr. Rubin has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Merck Manual. Dr. Andrews has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Biogen. Dr. Andrews has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Wave Life Sciences. Dr. Andrews has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving as a Consultant for Cytokinetics. Dr. Andrews has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for AL-S Pharma.

Social Media Charity Campaigns and Pro-Social Behaviour. Evidence from the Ice Bucket Challenge

Social Media Charity Campaigns and Pro-Social Behaviour. Evidence from the Ice Bucket Challenge

Applying Behavioral Contagion Theory to Examining Young Adults’ Participation in Viral Social Media Challenges

Viral social media challenges have erupted across multiple social media platforms. While social media users participate in prosocial challenges designed to support good causes, like the Ice Bucket Challenge, some challenges (e.g., Cinnamon Challenge) can also potentially be dangerous. To understand the influential factors, experiences, and reflections of young adults who participated in a viral social media challenge in the past, we conducted interviews with 30 college students (ages 18–27). We applied behavioral contagion theory as a qualitative lens to understand whether this theory could help explain the factors that contributed to their participation. We found that behavior contagion theory was useful but not fully able to explain how and why young social media users engaged in viral challenges. Thematic analyses uncovered that overt social influence and intrinsic factors (i.e., social pressure, entertainment value, and attention-seeking) also played a key role in challenge participation. Additionally, we identified divergent patterns between prosocial and potentially risky social media challenges. Those who participated in prosocial challenges appeared to be more socially motivated as they saw more similarities between themselves and the individuals that they observed performing the challenges and were more likely to be directly encouraged by their friends to participate. In contrast, those who performed potentially risky challenges often did not see similarities with other challenge participants, nor did they receive direct encouragement from peers; yet, half of these participants said they would not have engaged in the challenge had they been more aware of the potential for physical harm. We consider the benefits and risks that viral social media challenges present for young adults with the intent of optimizing these interactions by mitigating risks, rather than discouraging them altogether.

Lou Gehrig’s Disease: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Have you ever heard about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)? ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a disease that results in muscle weakness and paralysis caused by the death of nerve cells. ALS is a rare disease—approximately 60,000–380,000 people are diagnosed with ALS each year all over the world. ALS is considered an age-associated disease, as symptoms usually appear after age 50. Despite being studied for the last 100 years, the causes of ALS remain unknown, and there is still no effective treatment or cure. ALS symptoms worsen quickly, and affected individuals become entirely dependent on caretakers. People with ALS typically die within 1–3 years following diagnosis. Awareness campaigns like the Ice Bucket Challenge can raise interest in ALS and money for studying—and hopefully one day curing—this rare and terrible disease.

Antecedents of blatant benevolence on social media

ABSTRACT With the rise of social media in people’s lives, the tendency to donate through social media platforms has increased tremendously. The positive attitudes of social media users towards online charity initiatives, such as ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, are also gaining traction. Therefore, it is of great value for the charitable organizations to identify the motivational factors that encourage social media users to participate in blatant benevolence. Drawing on costly signalling and self-presentation theories, this study undertakes a multi-method approach with the aim to explore social media users’ motivation of posting prosocial behaviour on social media platforms by identifying the antecedents of blatant benevolence. Using the interview data from 126 social media users, the study first applies rigorous grounded theory analysis to identify factors that lead to blatant benevolence, and subsequently employs a survey method approach, comprising data from 342 social media users, to empirically test the factors identified. Our findings show that desire for social network enhancement and warm glow attainment are the significant drivers that motivate people to post prosocial behaviours on social media. Theoretical and practical implications of our findings for social media behaviour researchers and charity organizations are also discussed in the paper.

Social media charity campaigns and pro-social behavior. Evidence from the Ice Bucket Challenge

Social media play a relevant role in shaping social attitudes and economic behaviors of individuals. One of the first very well-known examples of social media campaign is the Ice Bucket Challenge (IBC), a charity campaign that went viral on social networks in August 2014 aiming at collecting money for the research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We rely on UK longitudinal data to investigate the causal impact of the Ice Bucket Challenge on pro-social behaviors. In detail, this study shows that having been exposed to the IBC increases the probability of donating money, and it increases the amount of donating money among those who donate at most £100. We also find that exposure to the IBC has increased the probability of volunteering and the level of interpersonal trust. However, all these results, but the one on the intensive margins of donations, have a short duration, limited to less than one year, supporting the prevalent consensus that social media campaigns may have only short-term effects.

Unravelling influential individual level factors during a crowdfunding campaign: Insights from the ALS ice bucket challenge

This study aims to identify the factors that drive sharing and donating in a viral crowdfunding campaign. Crowdfunding is a method of raising finance that allows founders of both for-profit and nonprofit social and cultural projects to request funding from multiple people. Using ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Ice Bucket Challenge as a case study, we explored the triggering factors for sharing content and donating money that resulted in the campaign's phenomenal success. The hybridity inherent across crowdfunding models has meant that there are diverse motivations and incentives for people to participate in a crowdfunding campaign. It is therefore important to understand what factors lead social media / online information to reach a wider audience in the shortest possible time. Following a literature review, a theoretical model of motivating factors was developed and tested through an online survey amongst 469 US participants. The results indicate significant relationships between those who participated / donated and the modelled factors. Personalization and message involvement are the strongest factors for sharing, whereas moral obligation to donate is strongest for donating. By examining the factors that are responsible for sharing and donating simultaneously, we provide a comprehensive assessment of the motivating factors for the campaign's success.

The Role and Impact of Social Media on Online Social Movements: An Analysis of ‘ALS Ice Bucket Challenge’ in India

Online social movements have taken root and flourished in the last decade due to online communication networks attributed to Social media. In this paper, the mixed-method approach is utilized for qualita- tive and quantitative analysis to investigate the efficacy of social media in propounding the outcome of online social movements in India. Further, several factors which have a definite impact on the outcomes of such online social movements are highlighted. This study concludes that online social media campaigns can be viewed as an extension of ‘social norms media campaigns’. Further, it establishes that the internet penetration in India coupled with ‘online peer pressure’ accompanying such movements has ef- fectively aroused the consciousness of users towards such campaigns. It also highlights the alteration in the process of diffusion of ideas in society due to the advent of social media platforms.

Factors Contributing to Adolescents' and Young Adults' Participation in Web-Based Challenges: Survey Study.

BackgroundWeb-based challenges, phenomena that are familiar to adolescents and young adults who spend large amounts of time on social media, range from minimally harmful behaviors intended to support philanthropic endeavors to significantly harmful behaviors that may culminate in injury or death.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the beliefs that lead adolescents and young adults to participate in these activities by analyzing the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) ice bucket challenge, representing nonharmful behaviors associated with web-based challenges, and the cinnamon challenge, representing web-based challenges that lead to harmful behaviors.MethodsA retrospective quantitative study was conducted with a total of 471 participants aged between 13 and 35 years who either had participated in the ALS ice bucket challenge or the cinnamon challenge, or had never participated in any web-based challenge. Binomial logistic regression models were used to classify those who participated in the ALS ice bucket challenge or cinnamon challenge versus those who did not engage in either challenge using the integrated behavioral model’s beliefs as predictors.ResultsThe findings showed that participants of both the cinnamon challenge and the ALS ice bucket challenge had significantly greater expectations from the public to participate in the challenge they completed in comparison with individuals who never participated in any challenge (P=.01 for the cinnamon challenge and P=.003 for the ALS ice bucket challenge). Cinnamon challenge participants had greater value for the outcomes of the challenge (P<.001) and perceived positive public opinion about the challenge (P<.001), in comparison with individuals who never participated in any challenge. In contrast, ALS ice bucket challenge participants had significantly greater positive emotional responses than individuals who never participated in any challenge (P<.001).ConclusionsThe constructs that contribute to the spread of web-based challenges vary based on the level of self-harm involved in the challenge and its purpose. Intervention efforts could be tailored to address the beliefs associated with different types of web-based challenges.

Carnivalizing Other’s Misery: From Human Ice Cream Sundae to Polar Plunge to Ice Bucket Challenge

Reflecting on Shing-Ling Chen’s experience of being a Leukemia child’s mother encountering others’ seemingly hurtful support of her misery, the authors address the ethics of having fun activities as fundraisers for victims of traumatic events. The authors question the adequacy of hosting entertaining activities to fundraise for victims of Asian Tsunami, or patients of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; that is, the ALS ice-bucket challenge) and cancers (e.g., polar plunge), and so on. The social dynamics and communication processes involved in these events are analyzed.

Does Truth Have a Future?

Does Truth Have a Future?

The impact of valence framing on response expectancies of side effects and subsequent experiences: a randomised controlled trial

Objective: Pre-treatment side effect expectancies often influence subsequent experiences; however, expectancy-based reduction strategies are lacking. We explored whether framing information about adverse responses (in positive or negative formats) altered expectancies and experiences of a cold pressor task. We further investigated associations between expectancies and experiences, to inform potential interventions.Design: Healthy volunteers (N = 134), randomised to receive positively- or negatively-framed pre-cold pressor task information, self-rated 12 expectancies for cold pressor experiences, emotional state and coping style.Main Outcome Measures: Self-reports of the same 12-experiences (recorded during and after the experiment) were assessed.Results: Framing had minimal impact on expectancies and experiences; however, discomfort threshold (p = .08, d = 0.22) showed a trend in the expected direction. Hierarchical regressions revealed expectancies uniquely, significantly predicted 6–23% of the variance for 11 subsequent experiences. Following a popular charity event (Ice Bucket Challenge), all participants showed higher ‘discomfort thresholds’ (p = .001, d = 0.59), and those in the negative frame reported more overall ‘discomfort’ (p = .01, d = 0.60) than participants in the positive condition.Conclusion: Expectancies uniquely influenced subsequent cold pressor experiences. Framing had minimal impact in this ‘analogue’ medical setting, only influencing ‘discomfort threshold’. ‘Discomfort threshold’ and overall ‘discomfort’ were also impacted by a social media challenge, highlighting a potential area for intervention.

Like, Share, Retweet: Testing Competing Models of the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Slacktivism Engagement

ABSTRACT Token support for social causes has been increasingly studied and commented on in recent years. Campaigns such as the Livestrong bracelet, the pink breast cancer ribbons, the Kony 2012 video, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and the Facebook profile picture modifications for marriage equality and support for Paris after the terrorist attacks in November 2015, have been coined “slacktivism” and those who engage in such activities “slacktivists”; however, little empirical research has been done on the topic. Most of the research and commentary on slacktivism focuses on social media activity online. This research tests competing models of the theory of planned behavior in predicting an individual’s slacktivism engagement from their attitudes, norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention. The results suggest that although the theory may be a plausible representation of the data, behavioral control may not be important in the context of engaging in slacktivism.

Public Referral, Viral Campaign, and Celebrity Participation: A Social Network Analysis of the Ice Bucket Challenge on YouTube

Public referral is a viral campaign strategy that takes advantage of the existence of networked culture in social media. The 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge is an exemplary instance of a public referral–based campaign, the success of which can be partly attributed to the voluntary engagement of celebrity communities. This study views celebrities as social actors and explores the ways in which celebrities’ public referral networks grew during the Ice Bucket Challenge. Findings suggest that celebrities engaged in the campaign based on restrictive social networking rules. Also, the referral network grew through homophily, wherein sociodemographic similarities played an important role in celebrities’ referral decision making. This article contends that understanding whom people select to pass along the campaign message should be as important as understanding why people share the message.

Viral altruism or social contagion? Comparative analysis of types of participation and mechanisms of involving Russian and Ukrainian users of social media in the charitable campaign Ice Bucket Challenge

Viral altruism or social contagion? Comparative analysis of types of participation and mechanisms of involving Russian and Ukrainian users of social media in the charitable campaign Ice Bucket Challenge

Viral ice buckets: A memetic perspective on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge’s diffusion

This paper presents an exploratory memetic perspective on the diffusion pattern of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. More precisely, the paper contributes to research on social learning, cultural evolution, and social contagion by shedding light on endogenous (meme-related) as well as exogenous (structural) properties that may have influenced the Ice Bucket Challenge’s diffusion. In a first pillar, we present a descriptive memetic analysis of the diffusion pattern, including an evaluation of the Ice Bucket Challenge according to memetic criteria for successful replication. In the second pillar, we present an agent-based simulation model designed to illuminate the influence of particular social network characteristics on the Ice Bucket Challenge’s diffusion. By combining these two pillars, we contribute to the advancement of memetic theory, narrowing the gap between a solely meme-centered perspective and social network analysis.

Pink Ribbon Day as the International Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

&lt;p&gt;Currently, with the booming of New Media, it is not uncommon to see causes and campaigns meant to raise awareness on certain issues. One of the all-time viral campaigns was ‘ALS Ice Bucket Challenge’ campaign videos performed by well-known celebrities. In relation to causes and campaigns, on the 1&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; of October, our attention is drawn towards the Pink Ribbon Day – known as the International Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Not only that, there is currently an attention-getting Cancer Awareness campaign in many social media – &lt;strong&gt;Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C)&lt;/strong&gt; Campaign – which has drawn the attention of those whose lives have been touched by the various devastating Cancer illnesses. This paper discusses and analyzes the SU2C campaigns in relation to its reliance on celebrity endorsement in achieving its purposes. The case of SU2C is analyzed within the framework of Circuit of Culturetoanalyze how the public relations theory and Celebrity Humanitarianism may inform the various practices of public relations in the world. Not only that, through the reflections in the Circuit of Culture, the paper also elaborates the possibilities of how the analysis of the SU2C campaign can be used to influence other cancer awareness campaigns, particularly in Indonesia.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Keywords:&lt;/strong&gt; New Media, Campaign, Circuit of Culture, Celebrity Humanitarianism&lt;/p&gt;

Dynamic virality: A review of the Ice Bucket Challenge

Dynamic virality resulted in millions of people pouring buckets of ice water over their heads, while over a billion people watched. Ultimately, this behaviour and the usergenerated content it created led to over US$100m in donations to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association. This paper introduces the concept of dynamic virality by recounting essential events leading up to and surrounding what was popularly referred to as the Ice Bucket Challenge. Readers will gain an appreciation for dynamic (versus traditional) virality and its potential role in social marketing, especially in the promotion of non-profit organisations and their causes.