Methods to detect amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or presymptomatic Alzheimer's disease (PSAD) using an indicator cell assay platform (iCAP) in a test subject are described. Specifically, the disclosure provides a method comprising contacting a biological fluid of said test subject with indicator cells and assessing said indicator cells for the level of expression of an exon of CKIgamma2 that encodes the C-terminal palmitoylated region of said CKIgamma2, to determine the probability that a test subject is afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Further disclosed are methods of using indicator cells that are pan neuronal populations of glutamatergic (and/or GABAergic) neurons to determine the probability of the presence of presymptomatic or symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (PSAD) in a test subject.
MARKERS FOR AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS) AND PRESYMPTOMATIC ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (PSAD)