Spontaneous mutations may underlie some sporadic ALS cases
WHY IT MATTERS
If your ALS diagnosis is sporadic (not inherited), this research suggests your condition may have developed from random mutations in your nerve cells rather than a genetic predisposition, which could change how doctors approach your treatment and genetic counseling.
Scientists discovered that some people with ALS (a disease that affects nerve cells controlling muscles) may develop the condition from new mutations that happen by chance in their nerve cells, rather than inheriting the mutation from their parents. This is different from inherited ALS cases where a parent passes down a faulty gene. This finding suggests there are multiple ways ALS can develop, which could help doctors better understand and treat the disease.
It’s well established that some cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are caused by mutations that are inherited from a person’s parents — but a new study shows some cases of sporadic ALS may be caused by mutations that are not inherited, and instead occur spontaneously in developing nerve cells. “Our study opens new avenues […] The post Spontaneous mutations may underlie some sporadic ALS cases appeared first on ALS News Today .