American neuroscientists from Duke University have found a potential way to combat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable and progressive neurodegenerative disease. Experts have discovered a genetic variation that gives its owners a higher chance of surviving ALS. The research was published in the scientific journal magazine Neurology.
ALS is also known as the disease of the distinguished theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who lost the ability to move independently and communicate without the help of technology due to this diagnosis.
The team conducted a genome-wide association study on 22 patients who recovered from ALS and compared their results with those whose disease progressed.
Scientists identified a common genetic variation called a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The SNP reduces levels of a protein that blocks the IGF-1 signaling pathway. As a result, those with this change in their DNA were 12 times more likely to recover than those without the SNP.
According to the researchers, their discovery points to a potential new approach to targeting IGF-1 that could translate into an ALS treatment.
Earlier scientists discovered The gene that triggers the development of ALS.