Objective: We aimed to study postural balance in preclinical Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) mutation carriers to identify and observe specific motor functional deficit before evident clinical manifestation.
Methods: Participants were 9 asymptomatic SCA1 mutation carriers (6M/3F), aged 31.8±7years (range 22-44), and 17 age-matched non-carrier controls (5M/12F) (age 18-42). Subjects underwent postural tests on a force platform (Tetrax-IBS, Sunlight Medical Ltd.) with and without visual feedback. Amount of body sway was represented by stability index (ST). Tests were repeated after 2- and 4-years. Estimated years to onset were calculated.
Results: In controls, ST was unchanged from baseline to 4-year evaluations in all standing conditions. SCA1 mutation carriers performed similarly to controls in the postural tasks with open eyes, whereas in conditions without visual feedback SCA1 carriers had significantly higher ST than controls at all longitudinal evaluations. Close-to-disease onset carriers (≤7years) showed more prominent time-dependent stance abnormalities (p<0.0001 for all comparisons).
Conclusions: Traceable and progressive postural abnormalities can be observed in preclinical close-to-onset SCA1 carriers. Quantitative analysis of stance could represent a promising outcome measure in clinical trials including preclinical subjects.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.05.007 | DOI Listing |
J Neurol
January 2025
Neurological Institute, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate our experience in the diagnosis of hereditary ataxias (HAs), to analyze data from a real-world scenario.
Study Design: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted at a single Italian adult neurogenetic outpatient clinic, in 147 patients affected by ataxia with a suspicion of hereditary forms, recruited from November 1999 to February 2024. A stepwise approach for molecular diagnostics was applied: targeted gene panel (TP) next-generation sequencing (NGS) and/or clinical exome sequencing (CES) were performed in the case of inconclusive first-line genetic testing, such as short tandem repeat expansions (TREs) testing for most common spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA1-3, 6-8,12,17, DRPLA), other forms [Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) and mitochondrial DNA-related ataxia, RFC1-related ataxia/CANVAS] or inconclusive phenotype-guided specific single gene sequencing.
Hum Mol Genet
November 2024
RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, United States.
The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a genetically heterogeneous group of rare dominantly inherited neurodegenerative diseases characterized by progressive ataxia. The most common mutation seen across the SCAs is a CAG repeat expansion, causative for SCA1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 12 and 17. We recently identified dysregulation of alternative splicing as a novel, presymptomatic transcriptomic hallmark in mouse models of SCAs 1, 3 and 7.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Neurol Sci
December 2024
Neurogenetics Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginitio Hospital, Athens, Greece. Electronic address:
Objective: Late-onset cerebellar ataxia (LOCA) is a slowly progressive cerebellar disorder with symptom onset ≥30years of age. Intronic tandem repeat expansions (TREs) in RFC1 and FGF14 have recently emerged as common causes of LOCA. The relative contribution of classic vs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
October 2024
Department of Neurology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang-Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
Polyglutamine (polyQ)-mediated spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), including SCA1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 17, are caused by mutant genes with expanded CAG repeats, leading to the intracellular accumulation of aggregated proteins, the production of reactive oxygen species, and cell death. Among SCA, SCA3 is caused by a mutation in the ATXN3 (ataxin-3) gene. In a circumstance of polyQ aggregation, the autophagic pathway is induced to degrade the aggregated proteins, thereby suppressing downstream deleterious effects and promoting neuronal survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Neurol
September 2024
Department of Toxicology and Genopathies, UF Neurobiology, CHU Lille, Lille, F-59000, France.
Background: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, is a rare neurodegenerative disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance belonging to the polyglutamine diseases. The diagnosis of this disease requires genetic testing that may also include the search for CAT interruption of the CAG repeat tract.
Case Presentation: One 23-years-old patient suffers from a severe ataxia, with early-onset and rapid progression of the disease.
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