Extraocular muscles may provide key to defensive mechanisms against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

A unique type of muscle fiber found in the extraocular muscles has been shown to be resistant against the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and has been shown to even increase in proportion to compensate when other types of muscle fibers decrease in proportion. This finding, by researchers at Umeå University and University Hospital of Umeå, could help with eventually finding new treatment strategies for slowing down the disease. The research is published in the journal Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science.