New blood test can detect early signs of ALS, study finds

The Brief

Researchers with NIH say they’ve found proteins in blood that accurately detect ALS long before symptoms emerge.

The study findings could help with early detection, definitive testing, and tracking disease progression.

Many doctors struggle to confirm the diagnosis before symptoms get severe.

A new study from the National Institutes of Health found signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, can be found in blood samples.

To diagnose ALS now, doctors rely on symptoms and neurological tests. The study findings could help lead to early detection.

Blood test for ALS

Big picture view:

Researchers from various departments of the institute found certain proteins in blood can accurately detect ALS long before symptoms emerge.

For context :

Many doctors struggle to con