ALS-related gene found with help from Ice Bucket Challenge

— The ALS Association is crediting money raised through the Ice Bucket Challenge for the discovery of a gene’s connection to the progressive disease.

Those who accepted the challenge allowed buckets of ice water to be dumped on their heads to raise awareness and money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

The challenge became a viral sensation in 2014 and raised $115 million US for the association. Figures from the ALS Association show $1 million of that helped fund a global effort called Project MinE to help find genetic drivers of the condition.

The ALS Association says a paper published this week in the journal Nature Genetics reveals Project MinE researchers have identified the NEK1 gene’s connection to the disease. It says understanding the gene’s role will help in developing new target therapy for ALS, a fatal neurological condition for which there is no cure.

ALS is also commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.