Functional and Structural Imaging and Motor Control in Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA)
Spinocerebellar Ataxia
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Spinocerebellar Ataxia focused on measuring SCA, dysmetria
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- DNA diagnosis of SCA1, SCA3, or SCA6
- phenotype consistent with the DNA diagnosis
- ability to walk 7 meters
- the age of 21-85 years
- capable of providing informed consent and complying with the trial procedures
Exclusion Criteria:
- Known recessive, X-linked or mitochondrial ataxias or any other type of ataxia
- Concomitant disorder(s) that affect ataxia measures used in this study
- Cognitive status on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment < 24
- Patients who have any type of implanted electrical device (such as a cardiac pacemaker or a neurostimulator), or a certain type of metallic clip in their body (i.e., an aneurysm clip in the brain), and are not eligible for participation in the MRI portion of the study
- Individuals who are claustrophobic
- Women who are or might be pregnant and nursing mothers
- Individuals with psychiatric disorders or dementia, along with other neurological and orthopedic problems that impair hand movements and walking
Sites / Locations
- University of Florida
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Experimental
Error-reduction
Best Medical Management
The participants in the error-reduction group will participate in a 4-week home-based training intervention during the month between their pre- and post-test visits. During pre- and post- training visits, Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), Purdue Pegboard, Brief Test of Attention, 6-minute Walk, Hand Grip Dynamometer, Physical Performance Function, Digit Span, SARA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Beck Depression Inventory 2nd Ed, Stroop and biomechanical gait analysis tests will be administered. Also biomechanical assessments of dysmetria and neurophysiological assessment of brain activity will be conducted to evaluate the impact of the training on SCA individuals.
The participants in the best medical management group will undergo identical testing sessions (two visits one month apart) as those in the error-reducing group but will not receive the 4-week error reducing intervention. They will be administered the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) assessments and the following tests: Purdue Pegboard, Brief Test of Attention, 6-minute Walk, Hand Grip Dynamometer, Physical Performance Function, Digit Span, SARA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Beck Depression Inventory 2nd Ed, Stroop and biomechanical gait. Biomechanical assessments of dysmetria and neurophysiological assessment of brain activity will be conducted at both visits.