New research uncovers possible genes involved in Lou Gehrig's disease

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A genome-wide search has revealed some interesting genetic variations among patients with Lou Gehrig's disease.
Lou Gehrig's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a paralyzing disease which affects one person in 2,000 and kills 10,000 Americans a year. Around five per cent of cases are inherited but the genes involved are unknown. Now researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reveal results from a genome-wide scan of 276 unrelated patients with ALS and 271 healthy controls.

They used a chip-based technology to pick up and analyze genetic variations in the DNA of the participants. This revealed 34 variants that ALS patients were more likely to have than the normal controls. Some of these could turn out to be markers of 'candidate' genes that are involved in both the inherited and sporadic forms of ALS. There were many other genetic variants which were more weakly associated with ALS - further research may reveal that these, too, mark relevant areas of the genome. These findings should lead to a better understanding of ALS which, in turn, could lead to an effective treatment for the disease.

Source
Lancet Neurology online February 2007

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