How ALS is diagnosed
There are different clinical challenges that can delay an ALS diagnosis. The average life expectancy of people with ALS is typically 2–5 years, but by shortening the time to diagnosis, people with ALS can receive earlier access to care that can lead to better health outcomes.
Understanding the clinical
challenges of ALS
ALS is a rare disease
ALS is a rare motor neuron disease that can progress rapidly over time. The rarity of this disease and delays in diagnosis can make it more challenging to conduct clinical trials.
Rate of disease progression can vary
As a progressive disease, ALS may spread throughout the body over time but the rate of muscle loss can vary. For example, although the average life expectancy after diagnosis is 2-3 years, 20% of people may live more than 5 years and 10% may live more than 10 years.
There is a lack of biological indicators to detect ALS
To date, there is a lack of reliable indicators, also known as biomarkers, in our body that are exclusive to ALS. This can make it difficult to diagnose and predict disease progression and other outcomes.
Numerous outcome measures have to be considered
There are different outcome measures used in clinical trials to determine meaningful changes observed in a patient’s condition, including survival and function. Each of these measures have their own strengths and limitations.
