VEGF-dependent activation of PI3-K/Akt is sufficient to prevent motor neuronal death in familial models of ALS in vitro (Li et al., 2003; Koh et al., 2005; Tolosa et al., 2008) and in experimental in vitro models of excitotoxic neuronal death (Matsuzaki et al., 2001). Here, VEGFA is linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.