Tears may hold key to ALS diagnosis, small study suggests
NCT ID NCT04953286
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at whether chemicals in tears and eye surface cells can help diagnose amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or predict how the disease will progress. Researchers collected tear samples and performed eye exams on 55 people with ALS and healthy controls. The goal was to see if the tear 'metabolome' and 'lipidome' could distinguish ALS patients from others, potentially leading to a simple, non-invasive diagnostic tool.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
What this could lead to
If successful, this could lead to a simple, non-invasive diagnostic test for ALS using tears, helping with earlier detection and monitoring.
What could go wrong
This is a small, completed observational study with only 55 participants. The findings are exploratory and need much larger trials to confirm if tear biomarkers are reliable for diagnosis or prognosis.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Centre d'Investigation Clinique_CIC 1415
Tours, France
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Neurology Department, University Hospital of Tours, France
Tours, 37044, France
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Ophthalmology Department, University Hospital of Tours, France
Tours, 37000, France