Ice Bucket Challenge Leads To Discovery Of New ALS Therapy

The Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014 helps in funding an ALS research in fighting the said disease. The researchers were able to identify the gene that could lead to the development of new therapy for ALS.

ALS or the Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as Lou Gehrig's disease involves the death of neurons that control voluntary muscles. It is characterized by weakening or deterioration of muscle's strength, which decrease in size, muscle twitching and stiff muscles. It symptoms include difficulty in breathing, swallowing and speaking. There is no cure for ALS.

A new hope arises as of today when the scientists discovered the gene that contributes to the disease. The gene, NEK1, could provide the potential target for the development of new therapy and bring the scientists to treat the neurological disorder.

The study was published in the Nature Genetics on July 25, 2016. This is the largest-ever study of inherited ALS and a research by Project MinE. There are more than 80 researchers in 11 countries that participated in the study. The researchers searched for ALS risk genes in families affected by the disease, according to BBC News.

Lucie Bruijn from the ALS Association said that the sophisticated gene analysis that led to this finding was only possible because of a large number of ALS samples available.

Ice Bucket Challenge raises over $100 million for ALS research https://t.co/1vD6FwEAz2 pic.twitter.com/Pk5FiIY2BK

— People Magazine (@people) July 28, 2016

The internet's Ice Bucket Challenge funded a medical discovery https://t.co/wXXmUxnv5r pic.twitter.com/rNFhdaRt4g — Engadget (@engadget) July 28, 2016

In the Ice Bucket Challenge 2014, the participants would dump a bucket of ice water on their head and post the video to support awareness of ALS and encourage donations. The Challenge raised about $115 million for the ALS Association. This has helped to fund a global effort in discovering the genetic drivers of the condition called Project MinE.