Study: Genetics May Play Larger Role In Who Develops ALS

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LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) Genetics may play a larger role in causing ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, than previously believed, according to research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Typically, researchers classify 90 percent of ALS cases as sporadic,meaning they occur in patients without a family history of the disease.

The Cedars-Sinai study foundgenes could account for more than a third of cases. Theyfound that patients with defects in two or more ALS-associated genes saw the onset of the disease approximately 10 years earlier than patients with single-gene mutations.

Investigators at Cedars and Washington University in St. Louis partnered for this study, which shed light on the genetics behind ALS, especially in patients who had no family history of the disease, saidDr. Robert H. Baloh, director of neuromuscularmedicine in the Department of Neurology and director of the ALS Program atCedars-Sinai.

Researchers examined the DNA from 391 patientsand identified manynew or veryrare mutations among 17 genes already known to be tied to ALS.

Baloh, the senior author of the study,said the mutations do not necessarily cause the disease but they are likely suspects, and, when combined, might increase a persons chances for developing the disease.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, which control muscle movement.

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Study: Genetics May Play Larger Role In Who Develops ALS