Third consecutive post..but Dr.MCCarty has just responded from Japan...on the thread link above..


This work is important – it is an example of what will become more common as the newer molecular biological tools are applied to ALS – and the results from this study as well as others have been keenly anticipated by researchers ‘on the ground’. In addition to this presentation, there was a separate report at the meeting that was along the same lines from a study sponsored by the NIH. Interesting information is certainly starting to flow but it is important to keep in mind that this is just the beginning and the conclusions are probably going to shift over time. For example, in these early reports, it is not clear at all that the two separate studies were able to find the same genetic links.

Caveats: The press release from the MDA – which funded the study through Augie’s Quest funds - is much more representative of the actual study. The quote from the first line of the other press release at the top: ‘they have determined the genetic causes of Lou Gehrig’s disease’ – is certainly not an accurate statement. Splitting scientific hairs to be sure, but the top press release makes it sound as if the story is over. In contrast, this is just the beginning and furthermore, sporadic will presumably have genetic underpinnings that predispose one (in other words, increase your likelihood of getting ALS) – but not necessarily directly cause ALS. This would presumably still be an environmental insult of some sort.

I can present more details on this later when I return from the meeting.

One cannot praise too much, by the way, the hospitality and grace of the hosts of this conference.


John McCarty, PhD
Treatment Investigator,
ALS Therapy Development Foundation