Emory Researchers Identify Blood Test for ALS Detection

A new 10-protein blood signature demonstrates high diagnostic accuracy in identifying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Stroke

Emory Researchers Identify Blood Test for ALS Detection

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Emory University researchers have identified a 10-protein blood signature capable of distinguishing ALS patients from healthy controls. The diagnostic tool achieved 98.3% balanced accuracy in an independent validation cohort.

Why it matters

Improving diagnostic accuracy for ALS is critical because symptoms often overlap with other neurological conditions, which frequently leads to delays in treatment. This blood-based approach offers a more precise method for clinicians to identify the disease.

The study measured over 300 neurological and inflammatory proteins in a validation cohort of 144 ALS patients and 37 healthy controls. The identified signature significantly outperformed the current standard of neurofilament light chain testing.

The players

Emory University

This major research institution based in Atlanta conducted the study to identify biological markers for ALS.

The details

Researchers utilized NULISA technology to analyze plasma from an initial pool of 632 ALS patients and 160 healthy controls. The final 10-protein panel includes specific markers such as NFL, NEFH, pTau-181, VEGFA, CALCA, NRGN, PTX3, TREM1, FOLR1, and LAMP3.

October 28, 2026: Research findings were officially announced in a press release.

The Big Picture

This discovery signals a shift toward multiplexed proteomic screening in neurodegenerative disease diagnostics. It effectively moves the field beyond the limitations of single-marker tests like neurofilament light chain testing to a more comprehensive diagnostic paradigm.

This development could eventually lead to faster, more accessible diagnostic testing for patients experiencing neurological symptoms. It represents a potential pathway to reducing the time patients spend waiting for a definitive ALS diagnosis.

The takeaway

Early and accurate diagnosis remains the biggest hurdle in managing neurodegenerative diseases. Clinicians may eventually utilize this multi-protein blood test to bypass the diagnostic uncertainty that currently plagues early-stage ALS assessment.