A new blood test for rapid diagnosis of ALS

A blood test can detect this neurodegenerative disease with 98% accuracy and within 24 hours. The speed of this process will allow treatment to be started earlier, which will translate into better results for patients, say the researchers. It is expected to be available to neurologists within 18 to 24 months.

A simple blood drawThat's what the new test requires, developed by researchers at the nonprofit lab Brain Chemistry Labs in Wyoming (USA), to diagnose the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects neurons in the brain and spinal cord.

ALS leads to gradual paralysis that eventually causes death. inability to walk, talk or, in advanced stages, move. Currently, its detection is based on a thorough clinical examination, which may take 10-16 months from the onset of symptoms, by which time many patients have deteriorated significantly.

Currently, ALS detection is based on a thorough clinical examination, which can take 10-16 months from the onset of symptoms.

“The average survival time is about three years, which means that many people get worse before receiving a definitive diagnosis. This analysis would be a game-changer, as it would improve detection time, reduce anxiety for patients and relatives, lower associated costs and contribute to the development of new drugs," he explains to SINC. Sandra Banack, a scientist at the American institution and co-author of the work published today in the magazine Brain Communications.

Furthermore, the percentage of misdiagnoses It varies widely, occurring in up to 68% of cases, making timely and accurate treatment even more difficult. “Given this high rate, a negative result would also be very valuable,” he adds.

The authors note that while the analysis takes overnight to complete, a large commercial diagnostics laboratory could do it in a single day once the blood sample is received. They also emphasize its ability to significantly speed up diagnosis compared to traditional methods that can take up to more than a year.

Analysis of microRNA sequences

The test is based on small sequences of nucleic acids, known as microRNAs, extracted from tiny vesicles released by the brain and nervous system.

Analysis of microRNA sequences from hundreds of patient samples allowed researchers to develop a 'ALS fingerprint' unique comprising eight distinct microRNA sequences.

An ALS biomarker that helps neurologists and primary care physicians and is based on a single blood sample is ideal for rapid diagnosis

Sandra Banack (Brain Chemistry Labs)

These sequences can sensitively and specifically distinguish blood samples from affected patients from healthy controls and from patients with conditions that mimic ALS in its early stages, with an overall accuracy of up to 98%.

“A biomarker for ALS that can be used by neurologists and primary care physicians and is based on a single blood sample is ideal. A rapid diagnosis will allow treatment to be started earlier, which will translate into better outcomes for patients,” said Banack, lead author of the article.

Search for business partners

This new test follows in the footsteps of three previous validation studies in which different patient cohorts were used for a total of 471 samples, many of which came from the National ALS Biorepository from the USA.

We are currently looking for partners with commercial diagnostic companies to make this test available.

Sandra Banack (Brain Chemistry Labs)

“We are currently looking for partners in commercial diagnostic companies to make this test available,” Banack continues. Paul Alan Cox, CEO of Brain Chemistry Labs, hopes to make this test available to neurologists within 18 to 24 months.

However, the team still needs to overcome some limitations of their work, such as the sample size. “We also need models of neurological diseases that share similar symptoms with ALS to refine our test so that it can accurately differentiate this from other pathologies,” she concludes.

Reference: 'A microRNA diagnostic biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis'. The Brain Communications (2024)

Source: Sinc Agency

Rights: Creative Commons