New studies by researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and Columbia University Irving Medical Center reveal that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder, exhibits a previously unrecognized autoimmune component. The research identifies inflammatory CD4+ T cells targeting the neuronal C9orf72 protein in ALS patients, implicating misguided immune attacks in disease progression. Findings published in Nature offer new insights into survival variability among ALS patients and open potential therapeutic avenues focusing on immunomodulation. This autoimmune hypothesis challenges traditional views of ALS etiology and encourages reevaluation of diagnosis and treatment strategies.