A canine ALS-like disease study links sensory pathway damage with walking problems
Original source
Pathology of general proprioception in a canine disease model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (opens in a new tab)Compass summarised this from the study's abstract.
Study details
- Studied in
- Animal
Related topics
Researchers found damage in sensory nerve pathways in Pembroke Welsh Corgis with degenerative myelopathy, a canine disease with similarities to some SOD1-associated forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The changes included axonal damage and SOD1-positive protein accumulations in parts of the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. Some dogs carrying two copies of the SOD1 risk allele did not develop disease or the related nerve changes.
Why this matters
The findings suggest that damage to proprioceptive pathways, which help the body sense limb position, may contribute to early coordination problems in this canine disease. This is an animal pathology study and does not change treatment for people with ALS.
Limitations and context
The study examined dogs with naturally occurring degenerative myelopathy and age-matched controls, not people with ALS. It assessed tissue pathology rather than a treatment, and the findings do not establish that the same mechanisms occur in human disease. The report also indicates that the SOD1 risk allele alone did not determine whether dogs developed disease.