Neurodegenerative disorders progressively impair a patient’s ability to function. Scientists expect the prevalence of these conditions to increase as the world’s population ages, and their clinical, genetic, and pathological heterogeneity complicates disease diagnosis and prognosis. The link between the immune system and neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is becoming clearer thanks to improvements in immune cell profiling. A recent study by a team of ALS researchers showed that specific immune cells in blood and cerebrospinal fluid at the time of ALS diagnosis may help predict disease progression.
In this episode, Iris Kulbatski from The Scientist’s Creative Services Team spoke with Caroline Ingre, a physician and neurologist at Karolinska University Hospital, and Solmaz Yazdani, a PhD candidate at the Karolinska Institute, to learn more.
Speakers
Caroline Ingre, MD, PhD
Senior Consultant Neurology
Head of ALS, Karolinska University Hospital
Lecturer and Research Group Leader, Karolinska Institute
Head of Swedish national MND registry
Solmaz Yazdani, MSc
Doctoral Researcher
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute