Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2025
08:59
Real-Time Fluorescent Measurement of Synaptic Functions in Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Published on: July 16, 2021
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Presymptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: from characterization to prevention
Michael Benatar1, Martin R Turner2, Joanne Wuu1
1Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.
Current Opinion in Neurology
|June 29, 2023
Summary
Advances in understanding presymptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) enable prevention strategies. New biomarkers like neurofilament light chain (NfL) and early signs of impairment offer hope for earlier diagnosis and intervention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Significant progress in characterizing presymptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is paving the way for disease prevention strategies.
- Current advances primarily stem from studies of individuals with a high genetic risk for ALS, but insights are increasingly applicable to broader at-risk populations, including those susceptible to frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Conclusions:
- The identification of presymptomatic biomarkers and prodromal states offers unprecedented opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment.
- These discoveries are crucial for developing effective prevention strategies for both genetic and sporadic forms of ALS and FTD.
- Ongoing longitudinal studies are vital to confirm the role of these markers as endophenotypes of genetic risk.
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