exercise, inspiring the fitness community like the creator of zumba to stay focused on the disease. >> i say, augie, you come to my class, i want you to do something, try to do something. he moved one leg, i think, he moved a leg like that. i say, okay, this is the augie step. this is the augie step. >> reporter: while technology and social media are dramatically improving the quality of life like those with als, researchers are working to find a breakthrough, a cure. at the packard center for als research at johns hopkins, dr. john's team is studying a gene that could provide a cure. >> one of the new genes in als chromosome 9 has an unique defect. the dna gloms up, i call it chewing gum sticking offense. that deprives the cell of what it can normally do. >> reporter: the hope is in stem