A Registered Cohort Study on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

A Registered Cohort Study on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a kind of motor neuron degeneration disorder without effective therapy. This registered cohort study will provide further insights into the clinical course of ALS, and investigate disease-relative risk factors and the genetic background of Chinese ALS patients.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease (MND), which is characterized with highly clinical heterogeneity and no effective treatment is available now. The purpose of this registered cohort is to observe the natural history of ALS patients in China, and then identify some factors correlated with disease progression. Besides, ALS-related gene mutations will be screened and explore novel disease causing gene as well.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis patients fulfilling the El Escorial criteria (including definite, probable and possible)
• Progressive muscular atrophy
• Primary lateral sclerosis
• Progressive bulbar palsy

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of serious head trauma or neuropsychiatric disease
• Decline to participate