Active clinical trials for "Cerebellar Ataxia"

The overall aim of the study is to determine the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) studying the effectiveness of physiotherapy intervention (virtual training) in children with ataxia following surgical resection of posterior fossa tumour

Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessively inherited neurodegenerative disorder that also has dramatic effects on the immune and endocrine systems. The disorder results from mutations in the A-T mutated gene (ATM) leading to a loss in the production of the ATM protein. The active compound in MBM-01 (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl) may substitute for the loss of ATM by protecting cells from DNA damage, preventing and reducing oxidative damage, triggering an increase in cellular survival proteins, and preserving the brain and peripheral immune system.

Cerebellar ataxias are a group of disorders caused by cerebellar affections, for which currently no specific treatment is available. Some limited studies verified the effects of cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on ataxic symptoms, with good results. The hypothesis is that cerebellar TMS could improve ataxic symptoms in some patients and in these patients, chronic cerebellar stimulation through deep brain stimulation could be a therapeutic option. The rationale is to stimulate the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum in order to balance the functional asymmetry observed between both motor cortices after chronic cerebellar lesions.

The Hereditary Ataxias are a group of genetic disorders characterized by slowly progressive incoordination of gait and often associated with poor coordination of hands, speech, and eye movements. Current treatments for Hereditary Ataxias are mainly pharmacological, rehabilitative, or psychological treatments，while no effective treatment available. Stem Cell therapy is a novel and promising therapeutic strategy for Hereditary Ataxias treatment. In this study, the safety and efficacy of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells transplantation will be evaluated in patients with Hereditary Ataxias.

Cerebellar ataxia is a neurologic symptom caused by a damage or a dysfunction in cerebellum and results in loss of coordination, balance and postural control. This impairment could result in a reduction of walking speed, short and irregular steps and difficulty in coordinating between lower limbs. Pharmacological interventions are not able to modify ataxia gait pattern, therefore, new approaches to rehabilitate must be studied. Treadmill locomotor training (TLT) and cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) are physical therapy techniques able to module cerebellar afferences and modify positively ataxia gait pattern. However, there is no study involving the association of these two techniques. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of ctDCS associated to TLT on functional mobility in subjects with cerebellar ataxia. A randomized, sham controlled, double blind clinical trial will be performed. The subjects will be randomly allocated into two groups: (i) ctDCS associated with TLT; (ii) ctDCS sham associated with TLT. The TLT will be performed with a speed and step length progression protocol for 25 minutes. The anodal ctDCS (2 mA, 25 minutes) or sham (2mA, 30 seconds) will be applied during TLT. The functional mobility will be the primary outcome and will be evaluated through timed up and go test (TUG). Ataxia' severity, balance and fall risky, will be the secondary outcomes and will be evaluated by the scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA), balance evaluation system test (miniBest) and TUG, respectively.

The present study aims to define a protocol of electrical stimulation of the cerebellum via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with a virtual reality protocol to assist the rehabilitation of social skills in adolescents and young adults with childhood ataxia. Taking into account the high neuronal density of the cerebellum, its strong connection with the cerebral cortex, and its involvement in motor, cognitive and affective processes, as well its involvement in social prediction abilities, the investigators hypothesized that excitatory stimulation of the cerebellum might improve social prediction abilities in adolescents and young adults with childhood ataxia. Moreover, as suggested by previous studies investigating the effect of tDCS in paediatric population, the investigators expected that tDCS will be safe and well tolerated. Such a result would encourage the use of non-invasive brain stimulation in the rehabilitation of social skills in childhood ataxia.

Genetic cerebellar ataxias involves progressive degeneration of the cerebellum. Their overall prevalence is estimated at 2-4 cases per 100 000 people. These diseases are manifested by a static and kinetic cerebellar syndrome characterized by impaired balance, coordination, and an ataxic gait. To date, no therapy is available for patients and physical therapy is essential and recommended. The evolution of the pathology causes a degradation of walking, increased instability and risk of falling. In one year, between 74% and 93% of patients reported having fallen at least once. Falls prevention by understanding the mechanisms affecting stability is a major issue in the management of these patients physiotherapy. The analysis of the literature, we assume that there exists a trio "fatigue - instability - energy expenditure" in which the three parameters would influence each other. To date, we do not have data to characterize these interrelationships and their evolution over time. STUDY OBJECTIVES: The main objective is to study the relationship between changes in energy expenditure and changes in instability when walking at one year in patients with cerebellar ataxia gene. The secondary objectives are to study, after one year of development, the relationship between fatigue, instability, energy consumption, the number of falls, the severity of ataxia and quality of life. CONDUCT OF THE STUDY: This is a pilot, multicenter, interventional. The projected duration of patient recruitment will be 12 months and the total number of patients will be included in 15. The duration of participation in this study is 12 months for each patient. The anticipated duration of the study is 30 months. Development of the study: Patients included will perform two sets (S1 and S2) tests a year apart including the evaluation of ataxia according Scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA); measuring the quality of life through SF36 (The Short Form (36)) Questionnaire; quantifying the severity of fatigue perceived by FSS questionnaire quantifying the severity of physical tiredness by VAS before and after physical activity; quantified analysis of walking on walking track GAITRite® (with score calculation FAP and GVI) before and after physical activity; physical activity like walking on a treadmill (with measurement of maximal voluntary quadriceps by manual dynamometer before and after physical activity to ensure the induction of fatigue). Patients will be provided with a portable device for analyzing gas exchange FitMateMED® (COSMED, Rome, Italy) during walking analyzes GAITRite®.

The purpose of this study is to learn how Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG) will affect Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA) symptoms and how it will affect motor and nervous system function in participants Subtypes of SCA to be examined will include SCA types 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 11.

Cerebellar ataxia is a complex motor disturbance, which, can occur as a result of many diseases and presents with symptoms of an inability to coordinate balance, gait, extremity and eye movements. Lesions to the cerebellum can cause dyssynergia, dysmetria, dysdiadochokinesia, dysarthria and ataxia of stance and gait. Deficits are observed with movements on the same side of the body as the lesion (ipsilaterally).

Hereditary cerebellar ataxia is a type of autosomal dominant genetic disease, lesions mainly involving the cerebellum, but the spinal cord and cranial nerves may also be some involvement. A total of 20 molecularly diagnosed SCA1 patients divided in two groups. One group accepted for the treatment of stem cell transplantation,the other group will be the control. Purpose of this project to prove that allogeneic umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are applied to clinical safely, and in the treatment of hereditary cerebellar ataxia is valid.