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Revolutionary Blood Test Diagnoses ALS with High Accuracy

10/17/2025

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Summary

Story summary

UCLA Health researchers developed a noninvasive blood test that uses cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to diagnose amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The test can differentiate ALS from other neurological disorders, potentially enabling earlier intervention and better outcomes.
The study, published in Genome Medicine, used machine learning to analyze cfDNA profiles from ALS patients and healthy controls, showing high specificity and sensitivity, though larger, diverse trials are needed before clinical use.

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Story summary

UCLA Health researchers developed a noninvasive blood test that uses cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to diagnose amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The test can differentiate ALS from other neurological disorders, potentially enabling earlier intervention and better outcomes.
The study, published in Genome Medicine, used machine learning to analyze cfDNA profiles from ALS patients and healthy controls, showing high specificity and sensitivity, though larger, diverse trials are needed before clinical use.