AI Article Synopsis
- FXTAS is a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder linked to the FMR1 gene premutation, characterized by symptoms of tremors and ataxia.
- Two patients with FXTAS who have a history of substance abuse (opiates, alcohol, cocaine) experienced a rapid decline in their neurological condition, hinting at a possible connection.
- Previous research indicates that substance abuse negatively affects neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting it may have accelerated FXTAS progression and worsened white matter disease in these patients.
Article Abstract
A debilitating late-onset disorder of the premutation in the FMR1 gene is the neurodegenerative disorder fragile X-associated tremor ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). We report two patients with FXTAS who have a history of substance abuse (opiates, alcohol, and cocaine) which may have exacerbated their rapid neurological deterioration with FXTAS. There has been no case report regarding the role of substance abuse in onset, progression, and severity of FXTAS symptoms. However, research has shown that substance abuse can have a negative impact on several neurodegenerative diseases, and we propose that in these cases, substance abuse contributed to a faster progression of FXTAS as well as exacerbated white matter disease.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4298646 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.5582/irdr.2014.01023 | DOI Listing |
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