A method (M1) for the diagnosis of amylotrophic lateral sclerosis comprising obtaining surface-enhanced desorption/ionisation mass spectrometric (SELDI-MS) data for a range of proteins showing numerous peak values and analysing the peak values with a decision tree with a set of tests for data peak values and associated predicted values, the data being predictive for a fall if the sum of the predicted values on the tree is more than 1.0, is new. A method (M1) for the diagnosis of amylotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) comprising: (a) obtaining surface-enhanced desorption/ionisation mass spectrometric (SELDI-MS) data for a range of proteins, the data being taken from one patient and showing numerous peak values; and (b) analysing the peak values with an alternating decision tree with a set of tests for data peak values and associated predicted values, the data being predictive for a fall if the sum of the predicted values on the tree is more than 1.0. Independent claims are included for (1) a method (M2) for the diagnosis of ALS by production of SELDI-MS data for a range of proteins from many patients including those diagnosed with ALS and control patients, statistical analysis of the data to identify significant peak values and training for an alternating decision tree as above with a boosting algorithm using the peak values (2) a computer storage device specifically embodying a program of commands for the computer to carry out the above diagnostic steps.
Method for diagnosis of amylotrophic lateral sclerosis, comprising surface-enhanced desorption-ionisation mass spectrometry of proteins from patients and analysing peak values on an alternating decision tree