American scientists have developed a rapid blood testing method based on microRNA, which can diagnose amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with up to 97% accuracy in the early stages and effectively exclude non patients with just one blood draw. The relevant paper was published in the latest issue of the journal Molecular Neurobiology. ALS, commonly known as "ALS" or motor neuron disease (MND), is a chronic progressive neurological disorder that can gradually damage motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and even paralysis. Due to unclear etiology and atypical early symptoms, over 60% of patients have experienced misdiagnosis, and it often takes more than a year from the initial appearance of symptoms to a definitive diagnosis. This study analyzed a total of 788 blood samples, covering 393 ALS patients and 395 healthy controls. The microRNA used for detection is a type of short gene sequence that regulates protein synthesis, and its expression characteristics provide a new pathway for early diagnosis. It is worth noting that about 90% of ALS patients are sporadic cases (without a family history of inheritance), and existing clinical methods are difficult to achieve early identification. The rapid blood testing method developed by the Wyoming Brain Chemistry Laboratory is equally applicable and accurate for both hereditary and sporadic ALS. The team emphasizes that ALS patients usually face life-threatening situations 2-5 years after the onset of symptoms, and delayed diagnosis can seriously affect the timing of treatment. If this test can be promoted, it will help patients to intervene as early as possible and strive for a treatment window. (New Society)