Dates: November 14-18, 2026
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.
Event: SfN Neuroscience 2026 — Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting
Overview
The ALS and motor neuron disease track at SfN Neuroscience 2026 covers Theme C.06: Neuromuscular Diseases, representing cutting-edge research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and related conditions. These sessions will present advances in understanding disease mechanisms, therapeutic approaches, and biomarker development[@sfn2026].
Pathway / Mechanism Diagram
graph TD
A["Genetic: SOD1, C9orf72, TARDBP, FUS"] --> B["Protein Aggregation"]
C["Environmental Factors"] --> D["Oxidative Stress"]
B --> E["TDP-43 Pathology"]
B --> F["SOD1 Aggregates"]
D --> G["Mitochondrial Dysfunction"]
E --> H["RNA Processing Defects"]
F --> I["Motor Neuron Toxicity"]
G --> I
H --> I
I --> J["Upper Motor Neuron Loss"]
I --> K["Lower Motor Neuron Loss"]
J --> L["Spasticity"]
K --> M["Muscle Atrophy"]
I --> N["Glutamate Excitotoxicity"]
N --> I
M --> O["Respiratory Failure"]
style I fill:#ef5350,color:#e0e0e0
style O fill:#ef5350,color:#e0e0e0
style E fill:#5d4400,color:#e0e0e0
Theme C.06: Neuromuscular Diseases
C.06.a — Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
The ALS sessions at SfN 2026 will cover:
Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms
...
Dates: November 14-18, 2026
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.
Event: SfN Neuroscience 2026 — Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting
Overview
The ALS and motor neuron disease track at SfN Neuroscience 2026 covers Theme C.06: Neuromuscular Diseases, representing cutting-edge research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and related conditions. These sessions will present advances in understanding disease mechanisms, therapeutic approaches, and biomarker development[@sfn2026].
Pathway / Mechanism Diagram
Mermaid diagram (expand to render)
Theme C.06: Neuromuscular Diseases
C.06.a — Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
The ALS sessions at SfN 2026 will cover:
Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms
C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion — Most common genetic cause of familial ALS
SOD1 mutations — First discovered ALS gene, protein aggregation
TARDBP (TDP-43) — RNA-binding protein pathology in >95% of ALS cases
FUS gene — RNA processing and stress granule dysfunction
ATXN2 — Polyglutamine expansion as ALS risk factor
Disease Mechanisms
RNA metabolism dysfunction — Splicing, transport, and translation defects
Proteostasis disruption — Protein aggregation and autophagy impairment
Mitochondrial dysfunction — Energy metabolism deficits in motor neurons
Neuroinflammation — Microglial activation and astrocyte reactivity