Ubiquilin is a protein that basically recycles proteins that are no longer necessary. It plays a role not only in ALS, but also Alzheimer's and several other protein misfolding disorders. Thanks for the reminder, blarman. One of my grad students and I are including a couple of articles on that subject in his thesis.

Is this thanks to the ice bucket challenge?

Thanks for the link blarman. My Father died when he was 67 of ALS. I had an Uncle who also died of it. Being 63 myself now it's been at the back of my mind for years now. Lets hope they get somewhere with it.

Good news but a long way from a cure.

This is great news.

So why is this 2 year old article that only says they've found the cause posted on GG as a breakthrough in treatment?

I am given to understand the Lou Gehrig may not have actually had his namesake disease. There is some evidence that suffering repeated concussions and not resting for a sufficiently long period after will produce injury to the nervous system which presents with the same symptoms as ALS. Lou Gehrig had a reputation for playing no matter what. I understand he never missed a game. Anyway, this is an exciting breakthrough. Hopefully we will see a treatment soon.

My father-in-law died of ALS. It is a horrible disease that is complicated by mental torture. As the afflicted person loses control of his/her body, bit by bit, the functions must be taken over by others. Eventually, the person is enveloped in a prison of flesh unable to function in any way at all. But -- the mind continues to work. It might be likened to being kept alive in a coffin. Dying for my Father-in-law was a blessing. I felt I could see it in his eyes, as he was being kept alive by machinery, pleading, please turn me off.

Cool stuff

isn't it gehrig, not gherig??