However, both transthyretin and cystatin C decreases are not specific to ALS patients and a similar pattern is observed in other neurodegenerative diseases (173) such as Alzheimer's (171), suggesting that the protein levels of both transthyretin and cystatin C level are a common signature for neuron vulnerabilities and neurodegeneration. The gene discussed is CST3; the disease is neurodegenerative disease.