How do you know if ALS is familial?

Written by Marisa Wexler, MS |

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How do you know if ALS is familial?

Category: Familial ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is considered familial if it affects more than one person in the same biological family. This typically occurs in about 10% of ALS cases. If a person living with ALS has no known family history of the disease, it is considered sporadic ALS, meaning it occurs randomly.

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About the Author

Marisa Wexler, MS Marisa holds a Master of Science in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. Her areas of expertise include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics, and she has worked as a science writing and communications intern for the Genetics Society of America.


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