Assessment of isometric tongue forces – an objective and quantitative surrogate marker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

Aims: Objective and quantitative surrogate markers for assessment of stage and progression of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) are desirable. In Huntington's Disease isometric tongue force variability (TFV) assessed by measuring tongue protrusion forces (=glossomotography, see figure) was shown to be increased, to correlate to disease severity as assessed in the UHDRS motor score and to the CAG-repeat length when normalized for the age of patients (Reilmann et al. 2003). Brain stem motor dysfunction, affecting the motor coordination of the tongue and oropharynx, is a typical clinical symptom of…