Specialized motor neuron region affected in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, new study finds

A new study, published in Cell Reports, reports a novel mechanism behind dysregulated neuronal activity, a key pathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Researchers at King’s College London found that molecular, structural, and functional changes in the axon initial segment (AIS) drive abnormal neuronal excitability. This is the first study to pinpoint the role of AIS, a specialized region of motor neurons, in ALS pathology.