ALS News Today Forums Forums Living With ALS Do you have Familial ALS?

  • Do you have Familial ALS?

    Posted by Amanda on April 26, 2025 at 9:12 am

    As I mention in my welcome email, I have a mutated gene which has caused my ALS. Does anyone else in the forums have a genetic mutation associated with ALS? If so, which gene is mutated?

    sarves replied 1 day, 6 hours ago 10 Members · 14 Replies
  • 14 Replies
  • jalves

    Member
    April 26, 2025 at 3:02 pm

    Hi Amanda

    I have C9orf72/Als . My younger sister died from the same C9orf72/Als.
    We think inherited ALS from my father side, my grandmother and aunt died with odd diseases, I was young when it happen, not much info about it.

    Do you know which mutated gene of yours is responsible for your ALS?

    • Amanda

      Member
      April 29, 2025 at 11:52 am

      Hi Jalves,

      I do. I have a mutated SOD1 gene. I think I’m the 14th or 15th person in the family. It also runs down my father’s side.

      Are you volunteering for any research?

      Amanda

      • grandpacheesecake

        Member
        May 1, 2025 at 2:38 pm

        I have a defective c-9 gene,high risk.I have lost 2 sisters to als,1 to bulbar als,1 to FTD,and i am losing a brother to FTD.I am in a study at Colombia for als and mayo up in MN. for a check on the FTD issue

  • jalves

    Member
    April 30, 2025 at 6:13 am

    No such luck here in Portugal/Europe, clinical trials are scarce.

    • Amanda

      Member
      May 7, 2025 at 8:07 am

      That’s terrible! I know clinical trials are limited but I didn’t realize how limited in that area.

  • Harry-50

    Member
    May 1, 2025 at 3:01 pm

    My brother and I both have pathogenic c9orf72 expansion. He is limb onset I’m bulbar/respiratory with limbs more UMN with minor LMN relatively speaking.

  • Romy H

    Member
    May 1, 2025 at 3:30 pm

    After losing my twin who was fraternal, I just lost a cousin a few months ago. She was told she had ALS but it was loss of balance overnight from a busy job taking care of folks. She was working full time and woke up one day with a balance issue. In 5 months she was gone! She was missing alot of the symptoms of ALS. I had to watch my twin suffer thru it. I have done alot of research and it really seemed more likely to be a form of progressive MS which can follow if your parent had Parkinsons which her Dad did. I tried to get her family to test her remains but they didn’t just like my twin!! I am going to discuss it with my primary care physician and ask if I can get a genetic test. Looks like I am the only one that wants testing for others.

    • Amanda

      Member
      May 7, 2025 at 8:13 am

      Romy-h,

      You are in a tough spot. I admire your dedication to helping other pALS and learning more about ALS. My cousins were the one who got my family involved. To be it was a no brainer. My father, who at the time had ALS, did not want me to participate. I really think it was more about thinking or learning I had the mutated gene. He felt responsible and didn’t want to think about me suffering. I often wonder what he would think now after everything we’ve learned. Not to mention I’m on QALSody and it’s keeping me alive and halted the progression. Without people volunteering we would not have that treatment for SOD1 ALS. I’m convinced that other treatments will show success as well. It’s been and continues to be a long road but we are making gains. Not enough, but it will only be enough when every pALS has a treatment or cure. Keep advocating and participating! You are making a difference.

      Amanda

  • Johnny5

    Member
    May 1, 2025 at 3:53 pm

    My Brother passed from ALS in 2015. I was tested for genetic links after I was diagnosed, but no genetic links were identified. I have 18 C9orf72 repeats, but this does not qualify as an ALS trigger (32 repeats).

    The ALS Clinic registered me as Familial ALS because of my Brother. Research into genetic links remains limited. They will likely find many more related genes to ALS in the future.

  • joemz

    Member
    May 1, 2025 at 6:16 pm

    C9ORF72, caused bulbar ALS and FTD

  • Amanda

    Member
    May 7, 2025 at 8:16 am

    pALS with a mutated gene – do you go to an ALS clinic that is involved in familial ALS research? If not, what does your health plan look like? What do you think should be different?

  • JoyceB

    Member
    May 7, 2025 at 8:40 am

    I was found to have the C9ORF72 gene. My paternal grandmother first showed signs of ALS and then was diagnosed. Then my aunt was diagnosed with ALS and several of her brothers and a sister were diagnosed with FTD. I also had two cousins with ALS and one cousin who had ALS/FTD. I have four siblings and three of the four tested negative. My older sister doesn’t want to know so she wasn’t tested. It was a very hard thing to accept when I found out, but I am doing much better now and actually living my life to the fullest.

    We (my siblings and I) are currently in the ALLFTD and DIALS (this is changing to the Prevent) studies. The study site was very excited to have all 5 of us enroll.

    The only thing I wish, is that there was a central location for people with C9ORF72 since there are two diseases that we could get. It would be nice to have all of the research and information in one location.

  • 123

    Member
    May 8, 2025 at 2:19 pm

    I have C9orf72/Als. My mother died for FTD in2009: and therefore, I believe I got this from my mother. I was diagnosed in January 2025. I am on Riluzole. It started with my right hand and I have noticed I walk slower, and have cramping in my legs in the morning. I am actively searching for appropriate drug trails.

    Carla

  • sarves

    Member
    May 8, 2025 at 3:31 pm

    My mum died of ALS twenty years ago and l seem to be experiencing symptoms seems like bulbar..with trouble swallowing and breathing at times and visible loss of muscles in neck and shoulders. I consulted with a neurologist who did a nerve function test and did find some nerves were absent but did not diagnose ALS and declined to test for familial ALS. Does anyone know where in South Africa l can test for this. Will appreciate any advice 🙏

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