ALS associated genes are the primary suspect that has a direct correlation to Lou Gehrig’s disease

It was thought that genetics’ played a small to no role in causing Amyotrophic lateralsclerosis (ALS), which is commonly referred to Lou Gehrig’s disease. A disease that affects the motor neuron by slowly killing them and slowing down their functions until it comes to a complete stop. This process will stop the signals that come from the brain to the muscle and will lead to the person being paralysis. 

This image is of the nerve cells comparison of a healthy and ALS affected nerve.

The researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical center are looking into the genes that affect ALS, although this disease can occur to people who do not even have the disease in their bloodline. Even though it not in a person family genetic history, the researches discovered that this certain gene could be responsible for over a third of the people with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Through their studies they stated, “they found 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.” Meaning that this gene is promising to have a direct correlation with the degenerations of the motor neurons when there is at least two mutations.  Now that they narrow there search to theses genes they can think of the best way to fix the gene, through gene therapy, to help cure or improves the persons health.

I believe that these advancements in the study of the human genes will help find other unknown genes that could also cause Lou Gehrig’s in the near future.  

First article: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20141206/Genetics-may-play-major-role-in-Lou-Gehrigs-disease-study-reveals.aspx

Second article:http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/12/05/study-genetics-may-play-larger-role-in-who-develops-als/