Clinical and preclinical evidence of somatosensory involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron neurodegenerative disease. Although it has been classically considered as a disease limited to the motor system, there is increasing evidence for the involvement of other neural and non-neuronal systems. In this review, we will discuss currently existing literature regarding the involvement of the sensory system in ALS. Human studies have reported intradermic small fibre loss, sensory axonal predominant neuropathy, as well as somatosensory cortex hyperexcitability. In line with this, ALS animal studies have demonstrated the involvement of several sensory components. Specifically, they have highlighted the impairment of sensory?motor networks as a potential mechanism for the disease. The elucidation of these ?non-motor? systems involvement, which might also be part of the degeneration process, should prompt the scientific community to re-consider ALS as a pure motor neuron disease, which may in turn result in more holistic research approaches.