ACVIM Innovators
ACVIM Board-certified Neurologist Joan Coates, DVM, MS and a team of researchers from the
University of Missouri (MU) and the Broad Institute have found the genetic mutation responsible
for degenerative myelopathy (DM) in dogs is the same mutation that causes amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS), the human disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
“We uncovered the genetic mutation of DM which has been unknown for 30 years,” said Dr.
Coates. “Dogs with DM are likely to provide scientists with another animal model for ALS. Since
DM is a spontaneous disease in dogs, it may represent a more reliable model than genetically
modified mice for biomarkers and possible therapeutic strategies.”
DM, a progressive disease of the spinal cord, causes affected dogs to wobble when walking and
has a high prevalence in German Shepherds, but is also found in Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh
Corgis, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and Boxers. Although it is not a
painful disease, weakness gets progressively worse until the dog is unable to walk and becomes
paraplegic. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in humans that attacks nerve cells in
the brain and spinal cord resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy.
Our Hero in Medicine: Joan Coates, DVM, MS, ACVIM Board-certified Neurologist
Dr. Coates, an associate professor of veterinary medicine and surgery at MU, began studying
DM in dogs in 1997 when on faculty at Texas A&M University.
Over the course of a decade, Dr. Coates and a team of researchers, including Drs. Gary Johnson,
Claire Wade, Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, and their colleagues, embarked on a research path which
required the collection of many cases and samples from many dog breeders, owners, and
veterinarians. e ultimate result was the discovery that DM is caused by a gene mutation in
the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene, which is the same gene that causes some forms of
ALS in humans.
Even with this extraordinary discovery, the road to curing both diseases is far from over.
“The outlook for a dog with DM is still grave,” said Dr. Coates.
According to Dr. Coates, efforts are being made to improve quality of life such as good nursing
care, physical rehabilitation, pressure sore prevention, monitoring of urinary infections, and ways
to increase mobility through the use of harnesses and carts for affected dogs.
“We still have a lot of work to do in finding ways to follow disease progression so that we can
monitor therapeutic strategies,” said Dr. Coates. “Hopefully this discovery will offer an opportunity
to other veterinary neurologists and specialists to use their expertise for further study of this disease
and in establishing ‘proof of concept’ for possible therapeutic strategies.”
This campaign is part of our commitment to recognize the exemplary work you do that advances us all. For more information on research initiatives, visit ACVIMFoundation.org.
