Inclusion Criteria
ALS or Suspected ALS Patient
- Clinical diagnosis of possible, laboratory-supported probable, probable or definite ALS according to modified EL Escorial criteria, suspected ALS according to original El Escorial criteria, or diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disorder with evidence of ALS plus extramotor features; OR
- Blood relative (first, second or third degree) with history of ALS or neurodegenerative disorder with evidence of ALS plus extramotor features; OR:
- A clinical suspicion or referral for ALS;
- > 18 years of age;
- Willing and able to give signed informed consent or assent that has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Blood Relative of ALS Patient
- Family history (first, second or third degree blood relative) of ALS or other motor neuron disease;
- > 18 years of age;
- Willing and able to give signed informed consent that has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Healthy Control
- No personal or family history (first, second or third degree blood relative) of ALS or other motor neuron disease;
- > 18 years of age;
- No personal history of other neurodegenerative disease (i.e., Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease);
- Willing and able to give signed informed consent that has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Exclusion Criteria:
ALS or Suspected Patient • Limited mental capacity rendering the subject unable to provide written informed consent or assent or comply with standard phlebotomy procedures.
Blood Relative of ALS Patient
• Limited mental capacity rendering the subject unable to provide written informed consent or comply with standard phlebotomy procedures.
Healthy Control Subject
- Personal or family history of dementia or other neurodegenerative disease (Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, etc.);
- Limited mental capacity rendering the subject unable to provide written informed consent or comply with standard phlebotomy procedures.