A new study, led by scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science, has discovered a molecule secreted by certain gut bacteria could protect against the disease, while other species of gut bacteria can exacerbate the onset of symptoms.

The impressively thorough study began by examining the effect of microbiome disruptions on a mouse model engineered to resemble the symptoms of ALS. After discovering the animal's symptoms rapidly worsened after their microbiomes were eliminated, the researchers homed in on 11 specific bacterial species that seemed to be playing a part in either increasing or decreasing the progression of the disease.

Two particular gut bacteria species, Ruminococcus torques & Parabacteroides distasonis, seemed to rapidly exacerbate ALS symptoms. But, even more interestingly, one species called Akkermansia muciniphila slowed the onset of the symptoms.