Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42609140›Full record

SynthesisThe journal of gene medicine2026

Exploring Genetic Therapies Targeting Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Animal Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Hannah E Wedgwood, Richard I Tuxworth, Zubair Ahmed

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The journal of gene medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Hannah E WedgwoodDepartment of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4988-3550
Richard I TuxworthDepartment of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5697-6254
Zubair AhmedDepartment of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6267-6442

Funding

LifeArc
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare, neurodegenerative disease, for which there is currently no known cure. ALS primarily affects motor neurons, with rapid deterioration, meaning symptoms develop quickly, from problems with speech and muscle weakness to breathing issues and paralysis. This systematic review aimed to explore the preclinical efficacy of various genetic therapies used to target ALS using in vivo rodent models.

methodsIn vivo studies of genetic therapies targeting ALS and its symptoms published between January 2015 and December 2025 were included in this review. The following databases were used: Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed. The primary outcome investigated was the total number of motor neurons, with secondary outcomes of rodent survival and muscle function by observing rotarod performance also being analysed. The SYRCLE tool was used to assess risk of bias in included studies.

resultsOf the 451 studies identified by searching the databases, 53 studies were found to be eligible for this systematic review. The articles were divided into subcategories depending on the gene target of each therapy. Meta-analysis of outcomes within appropriate studies showed significant improvements for the majority of selected outcomes (p < 0.05), favouring genetic therapy intervention.

conclusionsResults suggest that genetic therapies in rodent models targeting ALS are effective. However, due to a high risk of bias in preclinical studies, further high-quality studies are warranted to support this conclusion and onward translation into the clinic.

Indexed as

Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisGenetic TherapyAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalHumansMotor NeuronsALSamyotrophic lateral sclerosisgenetic therapyin vivo studies

Identifiers

PMID42609140
PMCPMC13482302

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.