Biomarkers for axonal damage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis indicate upper motor neuron involvement and correlate with disease progression

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of motor neurons located in the spinal cord, brainstem and motor cortex. This study tested whether biomarkers for axonal degeneration correlate with clinical subtypes and are of prognostic value regarding progression of disease. Patients with ALS (N=69) and age-matched controls (N=33) were included into this prospective study. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of tau protein and neurofilaments (NfHSMI35) were measured using ELISA. In 31 patients with ALS, follow-up data was available (Median follow-up 7 months). Levels of CSF N…