Receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK1) mediates necroptotic cell death, induces ischaemic organ injury [8, 9], and plays a role in chronic neurodegenerative conditions, such as multiple sclerosis [10], amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [11] and Alzheimer’s disease [12–14]. This evidence concerns the gene RIPK1 and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.