Active clinical trials for "Spinocerebellar Degenerations"

This study will evaluate the side effects and tolerability of the drug lithium in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type I (SCA1) an inherited disorder caused by loss of nerve cells in parts of the brain. Symptoms include ataxia (difficulty walking) and loss of muscle coordination and strength. Recent studies suggest that lithium may be helpful in treating some SCA1 symptoms. People between 18 and 65 years of age with SCA1 who have only difficulty walking or who have difficulty walking as well as tremor, hand incoordination or speech problems, may be eligible for this study. Participation requires three hospital admissions at the NIH Clinical Center and one outpatient visit. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures: Admission 1 (2-6 weeks) Medical history, physical examination, blood and urine tests, electrocardiogram. Evaluation of SCA1 symptoms (balance, walking, dexterity, tremor, memory, mood and concentration). Monitoring of liquid intake and output (urine) and weight changes. Lithium treatment Start treatment and remain in hospital until the blood level of the drug is stabilized; continue treatment at home after hospital discharge. Admission 2 (2-4 days, 4 weeks after hospital discharge). Repeat of some or all of the procedures done at the first admission. Continue lithium in hospital and at home after discharge, with local physician checking laboratory values as needed. Admission 3 (2-4 days, 8 weeks after Admission 2). Repeat of some or all of the procedures done at other admissions. Stop lithium. Outpatient Visit (4 weeks after Admission 3) Evaluation of SCA1 symptoms. Blood and urine tests.

Cerebellar disorders are often disabling and symptomatic therapies are limited to few options that are partially effective. It seems therefore appropriate to search for additional approaches. Purkinje cells are the sole output of the cerebellar cortex: they project inhibitory signals to the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN), which have a critical role in cerebellar function and motor performance. DCN neurons fire spontaneously in the absence of synaptic input from Purkinje neurons and modulation of the DCN response by Purkinje input is believed to be responsible for coordination of movement. Recent evidences support the notion that an increase in DCN excitability may be an important step in the development of cerebellar ataxia and point to the underlying molecular mechanisms: the inhibition of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels, that causes an increase of the firing frequency in DCN, correlates with cerebellar ataxia. The rationale of the present project is that SK channel openers, such as riluzole, may have a beneficial effect on cerebellar ataxia. The researchers propose to perform a pilot study investigating safety and efficacy of riluzole, an approved treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as a symptomatic approach in patients with chronic cerebellar ataxia.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of C-Trelin OD Tablet 5mg(Taltirelin Hydrate) in Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with ataxia induced by spinocerebellar degeneration.

Neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxias represent a group of disabling disorders which 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 followed by an open-label phase, the investigators will evaluate whether a repetition of two-weeks' treatment with cerebellar anodal tDCS and spinal cathodal tDCS, after a three months interval, may further outlast clinical improvement in patients with neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxia and can modulate cerebello-motor connectivity, at short and long term.

Spinocerebellar ataxia 38 (SCA 38) is a very rare autosomal dominant inherited disorder caused by a mutation in ELOV5 gene, specifically expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells, encoding an enzyme involved in the synthesis of fatty acids. The present study aimed to assess the effect of cerebellar anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) administered employing deltoid (CD-tDCS) and spinal (CS-tDCS) cathodal montage. Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline (T0), after 15 sessions of tDCS (T1) and after one month of follow-up (T2).

The study is to examine the effect of functional trunk training on trunk control and upper extremity functions in patients with autosomal recessive ataxia.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the superiority of KPS-0373 to placebo, and evaluate the safety of KPS-0373 in SCD patients.

The purpose of the clinical trial is to study the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Stemchymal® infusions for polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxia treatment by a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design. Eligible subjects will receive Stemchymal® through intravenous infusion.

The Cerebellum contains ten percent of the total volume of the brain and receives brain, spinal cord and vestibular sensory input. The organization of vestibular and somato-sensory afferent informations are also reported to be impaired in patients with cerebellum dysfunctions. Ataxia and impaired balance control are common symptoms in individuals with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). Previous studies have shown that patient with cerebellar damage are usually agonist and antagonist muscle coordination problem. Past studies also found the regulation of reciprocal Ia inhibition was impaired in patients with spinaocerebellar ataxia. In chronic phase, weakness might be developed due to deconditioned. All deficits mentioned above might lead to a decrease functional ability. Therefore, increasing somato-sensory and vestibular input, normalizing the modulation of recriprocal inhibition, and improve muscle strength might be able to improve the functional abilities of individuals with SCA. Recently, whole body vibration (WBV) has been trained for health groups. Studies showed that WBV training were able to improve muscle strength, balance control, and functional ability. However, there is no evidence showed that whether the whole body vibration training can affect the brain and spinal cord for the regulation of neural circuits. Whether also can affect for maximal voluntary contraction and improve central fatigue. No previous studies that whole body vibration training for SCA. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the intracortical facilitation and inhibition, reciprocal Ia inhibition, low frequency depression, maximal voluntary contraction, interpolated twitch technique to compare the different between the SCA and health subject. Also to investigate the short term and long term effect of WBV.

Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a hereditary disorder with movement incoordination. The ataxia performed low intra-cortical facilitation mainly due to the degenerative cerebellum. Noninvasive sensory stimulations such as peripheral electrical stimulation were reported to modulate the excitability of the motor excitability. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) was proposed as a neuromodulation tool for the aberrant motor excitability on the SCA. This study aims to investigate the effect of NMES on the motor excitability in the SCA, and the differentiation on the central or peripheral motor excitability changed by the NMES.