Active clinical trials for "Cerebellar Ataxia"

Background: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7) is disease in which people have problems with coordination, balance, speech and vision. It is caused by a change in the ATXN7 gene. A mutation in this ATXN7 gene causes changes in eye cells, which can lead to vision loss. There is no cure for SCA7 but researchers are looking for possible treatments. Researchers need more information about SCA7. They want to collect vision and neurology related data from people with SCA7. They want to learn how and what changes in the eye and brain when the ATXN7 gene isn t working properly. Objective: To learn more about SCA7 and its progression. Eligibility: People ages 12 and older with SCA7. Design: Participants will be screened with medical history and genetic testing from a previous National Eye Institute study or their personal physician. Participants will have at least 7 visits over 5 years. They will have 2 visits during the first week of the study. Then they will be asked to come back every year for the next 5 years. Each visit will last several days and will include: Medical and eye history Several eye tests: some will include dilating the pupil with eye drops and taking photos or scans of the eyes. Electroretinography (ERG): Participants will sit in the dark with their eyes patched for 30 minutes. After this, the patches will be removed and contact lenses put into the eyes. They will watch flashing lights and information will be recorded. Neurological exams: Sensation, strength, coordination, reflexes, attention, memory, language, and other cognitive functions will be tested. Brain MRI: They will lie in a machine that takes pictures of the brain. Blood and urine tests Optional skin biopsy: About 3 millimeters of skin will be removed for more research testing; this is half the size of a pencil eraser.

Cerebellar ataxia syndrome with neuropathy and vestibular areflexia (CANVAS) is a genetic pathology of recent discovery (bi-allelic expansion in intron 1 of the RFC1 gene with AAGG repetition). The clinical picture is protean, associating a neuronopathy, a bilateral vestibulopathy evidenced by an alteration of the oculovestibular reflex (VOR), an atrophy of the cerebellum and a chronic cough. In the initial stage of the disease the clinical picture is heterogeneous and often incomplete. Ataxia at the beginning of the disease may be the consequence of peripheral nervous system involvement (neuronopathy) and the cerebellar syndrome may manifest itself clinically late. Eye movement involvement in central nervous system pathologies is common (4). Oculomotor abnormalities are often subclinical and sometimes exclusively identifiable by an instrumental study, video-oculography (VOG) (5). VOG is a non-invasive examination of eye movements, which is increasingly used in the differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative syndromes (6). This examination allows, among other things, to identify oculomotor anomalies, even discrete and asymptomatic, by studying the combined movements of the eyes and the oculocephalic movements. The study of oculomotricity by VOG can therefore potentially contribute to the early differential diagnosis of ataxiating neuropathies, including CANVAS, by revealing infra-clinical oculomotor abnormalities correlated with a cerebellar expectation (knowing the role of the dorsal vermis in the precision of saccades and pursuits).

Using a retrospective cohort of 34 patients with DNER ataxia, we will characterize clinical presentation, tumor associations, and outcomes.

This study aim to investigate the neuroimaging changes of hereditary ataxia patients, especially in the SCA3 patients in preclinical or mild stage.

CoRDS, or the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford, is based at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It provides researchers with a centralized, international patient registry for all rare diseases. This program allows patients and researchers to connect as easily as possible to help advance treatments and cures for rare diseases. The CoRDS team works with patient advocacy groups, individuals and researchers to help in the advancement of research in over 7,000 rare diseases. The registry is free for patients to enroll and researchers to access. Visit sanfordresearch.org/CoRDS to enroll.

Chronic cough is a frequent cause of Pneumology consultations. CANVAS syndrome (Cerebellar Ataxia with Neuropathy and bilateral Vestibular Areflexia Syndrome) is a progressive and disabling neurological disease that very frequently occurs with chronic cough. This cough invariably appears as a prodromal symptom that precedes neurological symptoms. The biallelic expansion of AAGGG in RFC1, a causal mutation in CANVAS syndrome, appears with high frequency in the general population. Objectives: Main: To determine the presence of biallelic expansion of AAGGG in RFC1 in patients with chronic cough, regardless of the presence of neurological symptoms. Secondary: Describe the phenotypic, functional and inflammatory characteristics of these patients. and Know the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and chronic cough in patients with CANVAS. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional pilot study including 50 non-smoking patients between the ages of 30 and 99 years with chronic and / or refractory cough as the only manifestation or associated with gastroesophageal reflux. All patients will undergo the pertinent studies for the diagnosis of chronic cough, those who meet criteria for suspicion of gastroesophageal reflux will be requested an esophageal phmetry and esophageal manometry. Peripheral venous blood sample will be obtained for subsequent genetic analysis. Vibration sensitivity will be studied in all patients regardless of the presence of mutation. Those with alterations in vibratory sensitivity or mutations in RFC1 will be referred to the Neurology Service for a complementary neurological evaluation. For the molecular study of the DNA sample of the patients, two techniques will be used: standard Polymerase chain reaction amplification with primers flanking the intron 2 fragment of the RFC1 gene and amplification using Repeated Primed Polymerase chain reaction in 3 independent reactions.

Cerebellar ataxia is a form of ataxia originating in the cerebellum. Cerebellar ataxia can occur as a result of many diseases and may present with symptoms of an inability to coordinate balance, gait, extremity and eye movements. To understand the clinical and genetic characteristics of cerebellar ataxia, we establish a registered cohort to follow up Chinese patients with cerebellar ataxia.

The purpose of this project is to characterize measures of cardiac performance and neuromuscular physiology in FA patients using novel techniques, including echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), metabolic exercise testing, and neurophysiological outcomes.

Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) Friedreich's Ataxia is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a homozygous expansion of the GAA triplet repeats of the frataxin gene (FXN). FA usually begins in childhood or adolescence. It affects both boys and girls. At the neurophysiological level, FA is characterised by neuronal loss affecting the dorsal root ganglia, spinal cord and cerebellum. At present, daily exercise is the only way to combat the disease. There is no cure for Friedreich's ataxia. Clinically, FA mainly combines balance, movement coordination, articulation (dysarthria) with cardiac involvement and sometimes diabetes . After a few years of evolution, walking is no longer possible. Recent data ; also indicate disturbances in information processing and cognitive functioning. In short, FA involves adolescents who progressively lose walking, writing and speech for some; however, each patient progresses differently with respect to the disease, and this is the case with respect to motor and cognitive symptoms.

Cerebellar ataxia is a pathology linked to the lesion of the cerebellum or the afferent and/or efferent cerebellar pathways. The aetiology can be an acquired cerebral lesion, following a chemical poisoning or a genetic degenerative lesion (for example : Friedreich's ataxia, spinocerebellar ataxias, etc.). As reported by the latest estimate available, genetic degenerative cerebellar ataxias affect approximately 6,000 patients in France (Orpha.net). Symptoms suffered by ataxic patients are : problems and gait disorders along with difficulties in coordination resulting in ataxia, uncoordinated movements. These symptoms cause a decrease in the quality of life on patients with spinocerebellar ataxia. The symptoms improvement linked to the cerebellar syndrome is based on rehabilitation that can be supplemented by use of technical aids. Current scientific knowledge confirms that intensive rehabilitation by physiotherapy and occupational therapy in patients with degenerative ataxias improves cerebellar symptoms. Nevertheless, the choice rehabilitation technique stay at the appreciation of the therapist. From the observation, the investigators have designed an intensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation program, called PAMPERO, with partner patients member of two genetic degenerative ataxia patient organisations. This 5-weeks program has been used in clinic during 3 years on 28 patients. It appears to be the only one in France. The preliminary results show a positive effect on ataxia symptom. Nevertheless, the duration of the benefice over time and the effect on the quality of life stay unknown. However, the quality of life is mainly affected by the participation restriction due to the risk of falling. The most frequent complaint from partner patient is the diminution of the social interaction resulting of the incapacity to move without risk. The present protocol aimed at evaluating the Rehabilitation Program in collaboration with partner patient on the symptom intensity, activity and quality of life on genetic and degenerative ataxia. This PAMPERO program's effect will be assessed by comparing the difference of Intensity of symptom measured by to Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) at inclusion and 3 months after the end of rehabilitation.