The lack of an enzyme in the body causes the fatal nerve-wasting disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's Disease, an Italian study has shown, raising hope for new treatment options. The study by Milan's Mario Negri Institute and Turin's Città della Salute, published in the journal Brain, shows that the lack of cyclophillin A induces the terminal condition, which is also known as Motor Neuron(e) Disease (MND).

Conducted in animal models and on humans, the breakthrough "could be a first important step towards developing a therapy," said the researchers. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. The affected muscles are responsible for chewing food, speaking, and walking.