Scientists learned to detect paralyzing disease through hair

Changes in the concentration of copper, zinc, chromium, and nickel in hair may indicate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This conclusion was reached by scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The research results were published on the eBioMedicine preprint service.

ALS is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease that causes muscle paralysis. It typically takes 10-16 months from the first symptoms to diagnosis, which significantly reduces treatment effectiveness. Existing methods for finding biomarkers - fluid analysis or imaging - are often expensive, invasive, and difficult for mass application.

To find a more accessible approach, researchers used laser ablation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This method allows analyzing up to 800 data points from individual hair strands, reflecting fluctuations in element levels in the body with intervals of just a few hours. In total, hair samples from 391 people were studied: 295 patients diagnosed with ALS and 96 healthy participants from the control group.

The content of 17 elements was measured in the hair, including copper, zinc, magnesium, and lead. People with ALS showed disruption in the coherence of element "networks" associated with copper. This indicated a systemic failure in the element's metabolism in the body.

Gender differences were also identified: men with ALS had disrupted dynamics in the copper-zinc ratio, while women showed disruptions in chromium and nickel.

According to the authors, this type of analysis could become a new diagnostic method: it is simple, non-invasive, and suitable for widespread use.

"By studying the biodynamics of trace elements, we can identify hidden disorders associated with ALS long before the disease manifests clinically," the researchers note.