Genetic mutations in two previously unrecognized genes, the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and BNIP1 genes, are associated with elevated risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The study with that finding “Selective genetic overlap between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and diseases of the frontotemporal dementia spectrum,” was published in the journal JAMA Neurology.
As seen in other neurodegenerative diseases, abnormal accumulation of toxic proteins seems to play a role in ALS onset and progression. However, researchers are still deciphering the molecular mechanisms associated with disease progression.
