{
  "id": 11009058,
  "title": "Viral infections can accelerate the progression of ALS, researchers find",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/viral-infections-can-accelerate-the-progression-of-als-researchers",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-30T19:00:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-viral-infections-als.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "A new study from McMaster University suggests that common viral infections, such as influenza or COVID-19, may accelerate the onset and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, reveals that it is the immune response triggered by these infections that accelerates the onset and progression of ALS. ALS, known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a debilitating and incurable disease affecting about one in 300 Canadians. The study, conducted by researchers at McMaster University, monitored animal models of ALS following infection with either influenza A virus or SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The results showed that infected animals experienced a much more rapid decline in motor function compared to uninfected animals. The researchers found that even common respiratory viruses that do not infect neurons can leave lasting changes to the nervous system, triggering an inflammatory response from immune cells in the nervous system called gliosis. This inflammation remains elevated in the spinal cord even after the virus has been cleared from the body, amplifying the process of ALS and potentially accelerating its progression.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}