SOD1 and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Previous studies have also reported that SOD1 aggregates contain an amyloid component.11,15,33,35 Since minute amounts of misfolded SOD1 cause ALS,51 one hypothesis that can reconcile these seemingly conflicting observations is as follows: SOD1 aggregates contain an amyloid component but its low abundance precludes its detection by amyloid dyes in human tissues.