Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an invariably fatal adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of both upper and lower motor neurons. The major clinical presentation of ALS is muscle weakness and atrophy affecting speech, swallowing, and movement, with respiratory failure being the most common reason for death usually within 3-5 years of diagnosis. Though the cause is unknown, recent studies have identified several genes associated with the disease including SOD1, TARDBP, FUS, C9orf72, C21orf2, and most recently NEK1.