Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • In Brief
  • Published:

Motor neuron disease

Serum N-acetylaspartate: a potential biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

Nature Reviews Neurology volume 8, page 3 (2012)Cite this article

Subjects

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

Previous studies using magnetic resonance spectroscopy have shown that N-acetylaspartate (NAA) levels are reduced in the brains of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). New research indicates that this change is accompanied by an increase in serum levels of NAA, perhaps owing to release of this molecule from damaged neurons into the circulation. Serum NAA levels correlated significantly with ALS progression rates, suggesting a possible application as a biomarker for this condition.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Simone, I. L. et al. Serum N-acetylaspartate level in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Arch. Neurol. 68, 1308–1312 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Serum N-acetylaspartate: a potential biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?. Nat Rev Neurol 8, 3 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2011.196

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2011.196

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Translational Research

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology, drug discovery and pharma.

Get what matters in translational research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Translational Research