"Genetic Discovery: ALS Onset Delayed by 3 Years with Gene Variant"
A genetic variant that increases the activity of the NEAT1 gene has been found to advance the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by more than three years, according to a study conducted in China. The variant, rs10128627, was associated with an earlier age of onset in a large patient group, with men experiencing onset 2.86 years earlier and women 3.25 years earlier. The NEAT1 gene's exact role in ALS is still unknown, but the findings provide insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the disease's timing and offer a potential treatment target for delaying onset or slowing progression.