A Longitudinal Analysis of Biomarkers in Patients With ALS

Eligibility Criteria

• 1. 18 years of age or older at time of consent.
• 2. Capable of providing informed consent.
• 3. Capable of complying with study procedures.
• 4. ALS Subjects only: ALS subjects diagnosed with familial or sporadic ALS as according to the El Escorial Criteria (suspected, possible, probable - lab supported, probable, or definite) or individuals with known gene mutations associated with ALS (regardless of clinical phenotype)
• 5. Control Subjects only: Absence of autoimmune myopathy, neuropathy, ALS mimic disorder, or any other neurodegenerative disease or known diagnosis of ALS, or known ALS causative gene
• 6. Lumbar Puncture volunteers only: Clinically appropriate to have a lumbar puncture
• 1. Presence of a neurodegenerative disease other than ALS
• 2. Clinically significant history of unstable medical illness
• 3. Inability to comply with study procedures, in the view of the investigator
• 4. Lumbar Puncture volunteers only: Presence of bleeding disorder, problems with cerebrospinal fluid pressure, allergy to local anesthetics, a topical or other skin infection at the lumbar puncture site
• 5. Lumbar Puncture volunteers only: Taking an anti-platelet or anticoagulant drug, such as Plavix, Brilinta, Ticlid, Warfarin/Coumadin, Lovenox, Elaquis, Pradaxa, Xarelto, etc, and unable to safely hold it for this study. (Aspirin is allowed)
• 6. Taking any immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive medication, as determined by the principal investigator.