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Updated: Oct 10, 2025

A Protocol for Comprehensive Assessment of Bulbar Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS
Published on: February 21, 2011
Tear-Based Vibrational Spectroscopy Applied to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Diletta Ami1, Alessandro Duse2,3, Paolo Mereghetti4
1Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy.
Tear analysis using vibrational spectroscopy offers a new, non-invasive method for diagnosing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This technique accurately distinguishes ALS patients from healthy individuals by detecting unique spectroscopic markers in tears.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Spectroscopy
- Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics
Background:
- Optical spectroscopy shows promise for biofluid analysis in diagnostics and precision medicine.
- Challenges in identifying suitable biofluids and biomarkers hinder optical techniques for neurodegenerative diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore vibrational spectroscopy of human tears for non-invasive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis.
- To identify spectroscopic markers in tears for ALS detection.
Main Methods:
- Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman microspectroscopies were applied to human tears.
- Multivariate analysis was used to discriminate between ALS patients and healthy controls (HCs).
Main Results:
- High specificity (97-100%) and sensitivity (88-100%) were achieved in distinguishing ALS tears from HCs.
- Spectroscopic markers related to protein, lipid alterations, and reduced phenylalanine were identified in ALS tears.
Conclusions:
- Vibrational spectroscopy of tears presents a novel, non-invasive diagnostic approach for ALS.
- Tears are a reliable source of biomarkers for ALS detection and monitoring.
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