Daily SumUp

A simple blood test could speed the diagnosis of the deadly nerve disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), new research suggests. If the test gets regulatory approval, it could help patients start treatment that slows the disease's progression earlier than they would with conventional diagnostics, its developers say.

The new test works by detecting eight small molecules known as microRNAs, which help regulate which genes are turned on and how active they are. These eight molecules are found within tiny packages that are released into the blood from cells of the nervous system in patients with ALS. They act like a "fingerprint" of the disease that can then be detected in the blood.

In a new study, published Thursday (Sept. 12) in the journal Brain Communications, the test was 98% accurate at distinguishing between blood samples taken from 119 people with diagnosed ALS and samples from 150 people without the disease. However, it's not yet known whether the test can accurately differentiate people with ALS from those with other neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's, so more tests will be needed.

The researchers who developed the test say that, with further evaluation, it could become a useful tool for diagnosing ALS. There is currently no cure for the disease, but earlier diagnosis could help hasten patients' access to treatments that help slow physical decline. Such treatments include drugs such as riluzole and edaravone.

Related: Some people recover from ALS — now, we might know why

ALS is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the neurons in the brain and spinal cord that control the voluntary movement of muscles, including those required for breathing. Initially, patients may experience symptoms such as muscle twitching and cramping. Over time, the disease progresses, causing patients to struggle with everyday tasks, such as eating, speaking and, eventually, breathing.

Most patients with ALS die of respiratory failure within three to five years of their symptoms first appearing.