Globs of protein clustered in the neurons that control muscles
have long been the hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS), the fatal neurodegenerative disease also commonly known
as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Now, a study of the most commonly found
mutant gene in people with ALS reveals an unexpected origin of
some of those sticky masses, a finding that may offer drug
developers a new target for treatments. Research news items on
the role of the p62 gene in ALS-FTD and the ALS-FTD-Q, a new
screening tool for assessing behavioral disturbances in ALS By
Amy Madsen, originally posted at MDA/ALS NewsMagazine, September
26, 2012 The finding that mutations in the p62 gene can cause
frontotemporal lobar degeneration, added to an earlier finding
that such [...]