Active clinical trials for "Ataxia"

The first aim is to show aerobic training improves degenerative cerebellar patients functionally The second aim is to compare the effects of balance and aerobic training on degenerative cerebellar disease.

Machado-Joseph Disease (MJD) or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common spinocerebellar ataxia worldwide.Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a form of brain stimulation therapy used to treat depression and cerebellar ataxias. In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, the investigators will evaluate whether a 15 day treatment with 1 Hz of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve symptoms (motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms) in patients with MJD.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is one of autosomal dominant hereditary ataxias. Standing imbalance, unsteady gait, dysmetria, fatigue, and depression would occur gradually. There are no effective treatment or palliative methods for patients in the present days. However, low-dose growth hormone, or its downstream product, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), may deter the progress of SCA3 in transgenic mice. The main bioactive constituent among the Chinese medicine WT possesses neuroprotective function against glutamate-induced toxicity, which is one major pathology of SCA3. It promotes neurogenesis, and increases the protein expression of IGF-1 in ischemic brains of rats. Thus, we designed a randomized, double-blind trial for patients with SCA3, if WT is a possible neuroprotective medicine. All the subjects will be recruited from Changhua Christian Hospital. Diagnosis is confirmed by gene test and magnetic resonance image by a neurologist. They will be assigned in random and double blind, prescribed with 3 grams concentrated powder of WT or placebo, twice a day, for 12 weeks. After the washout period of 4 weeks, there will be a crossover of placebo or WT for another 12 weeks. After that, another 4-week rest will be followed by the end of trial. Check items in five check points include: 1. Blood examination (serum IGF-1, Neurofilament light chain, mitochondria copy number, 8_OHdG, delta-Ct), 2.Neurological exam (Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia), 3. Questionnaires (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale), 4. Handgrip strength test (which is correlated to IGF-1 value in elderly), and 5. serum metabolites, . All the data will be disclosed after the end of trial. Paired-T test or Wilcoxon Ranked Sign Test will be operated in SPSS.

Test the Efficacy of Home Biofeedback Training: Currently, biofeedback requires a skilled therapist and sophisticated equipment and is not widely available. The investigators designed and tested a novel home biofeedback device and predict that home training will be as effective as office biofeedback therapy. Our specific aims are to perform a randomized controlled trial of 100 subjects with dyssynergic defecation to investigate: (A) Whether a self-administered, home-biofeedback training program with a new portable device is as effective as office-based biofeedback therapy in improving i) physiology- dyssynergia (defecation index), and ability to expel simulated stool, and ii) symptomatology- satisfaction with bowel function, number of complete spontaneous bowel movements, stool consistency, straining and quality of life. (B) Whether home-training is more cost-effective than office-based biofeedback training.

To investigate the effects of whole body vibration on postural control and on the level of satisfaction regarding how to reach the goals of the patients with ataxia

The purpose of this long term extension study is to evaluate the long-term safety of ACTIMMUNE® (interferon-γ 1b) in participants with Friedreich's Ataxia (FA).

The purpose of this phase 3 multi-center, open-label extension study is to evaluate the long-term safety of ACTIMMUNE® (interferon-γ 1b) in participants with Friedreich's Ataxia.

Neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxias represent a group of disabling disorders for which we currently lack effective therapies. Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique, which has been demonstrated to modulate cerebellar excitability and improve symptoms in patients with cerebellar ataxias. In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, the investigators will evaluate whether a two-weeks' treatment with cerebellar anodal tDCS and spinal cathodal tDCS can improve symptoms in patients with neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxia and can modulate cerebello-motor connectivity, at short and long term.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of virtual reality-base training for cerebellar ataxia.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a 12-week in home balance training program with and without sensory augmentation for individuals with ataxia. Subjects wear a belt while performing balance exercises three times per week for 12 weeks. The belt measures body motion and has small vibrating elements called tactors mounted inside that when turned on, feel like a cell phone set to vibrate. The tactors provide information about body motion and indicate when and how to make a postural correction. Subjects will receive six weeks of balance training with the tactors turned on and six weeks of balance training with the tactors turned off.