A specific enzyme in body fat predicts how fast ALS will destroy a person's nervous system.

The ELOVL6 enzyme controls how the body processes specific fatty acids, and its activity levels serve as a ticking clock for ALS patients. Doctors previously focused almost entirely on the brain and spinal cord to understand why this disease progresses at different speeds. Higher activity of this fat-processing enzyme correlates directly with slower functional decline and longer survival times. This peripheral metabolic process appears to protect against the breakdown of axons, which are the long fibers carrying electrical signals between nerve cells. Patients could potentially slow the progression of paralysis by targeting fat metabolism through diet or new medications. A simple blood test for lipid markers may soon replace complex neurological exams as the best way to determine a patient's prognosis.