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Working with cerebellar ataxia

Written by Dr. David Bushart Edited by Dr. Sriram Jayabal How can employment be made more accessible for ataxia patients? What barriers exist? A study of workers and non-workers with ataxia analyzes the benefit of employment, as well as how to reduce risk of injury. A job can often become Read More…

Designing a new “measuring stick” for ARSACS

Written by Dr. Brenda Toscano Márquez  Edited by Dr. Ray Truant ARSACS researchers develop a better “measuring stick”, or disease severity index that can help better assess the progression of motor symptoms and compare different groups of ARSACS patients. How does your doctor know you are sick? In short: measurements. Read More…

How an ataxia gene increases the risk for Alzheimer’s disease

Written by Dr. Judit M. Perez Ortiz Edited by Dr. Marija Cvetanovic In a tour de force study, a collaborative team of scientists led by Dr. Rudolph Tanzi (Harvard Medical School) and Dr. Huda Zhogbi (Baylor College of Medicine) found a novel relationship between the Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 gene (ATXN1) Read More…

Two or more birds with one stone: Designing a single therapeutic strategy to treat multiple types of spinocerebellar ataxia

Written by Dr. David Bushart Edited by Dr. Hayley McLoughlin A newly-proposed treatment strategy might be effective against several forms of spinocerebellar ataxia and other CAG repeat-associated disorders Upon receiving an initial diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), a swarm of questions might enter a patient’s mind. Many of these questions Read More…

Eyes: Windows to peek at brain function in spinocerebellar ataxias

Written by Dr. Sriram Jayabal Edited by Dr. David Bushart Eye movement deficits occur ubiquitously in spinocerebellar ataxias, even at early disease states, highlighting their clinical importance. Imagine the different motor movements that you make in your everyday life. Many people think of actions that we perform using our hands Read More…

New Strategy for Reducing Ataxin-1 Levels Shows Promise

Written by Carrie A. Sheeler Edited by Dr. Ronald A.M. Buijsen RNAi reduces levels of disease-causing Ataxin-1 in SCA1 model mice, easing symptoms of disease when injected both before and after symptom onset. Lowering the amount of the disease-causing mutant Ataxin-1 protein in affected cells and tissues improves symptoms of Read More…

Huntingtin: a new player in the DNA repair arsenal

Written by Dr. Ambika Tewari Edited by Dr. Mónica Bañez-Coronel Mutations in the Huntingtin protein impair DNA repair causing significant DNA damage and altered gene expression Our genome houses the entirety of our genetic material which contains the instructions for making the proteins that are essential for all processes in Read More…

Mitochondrially Stressed

Written by Dr. Judit M. Pérez Ortiz Edited by Dr. Brenda Toscano Márquez Scientists describe how SCA2 oxidative stress can affect mitochondrial function, and potentially how to fix it Mitochondrial Stress We all have experienced stress. When cramming for an exam last minute, or getting ready for a job interview, Read More…

Zapping the brain to help ataxia

Written by Dr. Judit M. Perez Ortiz Edited by Dr. Sriram Jayabal In a new study, scientists have found that “zapping” the brain with an electromagnetic wand may someday help patients with spinocerebellar ataxia. In an era of ever-evolving technological advances used for personal entertainment and space travel, medical scientists Read More…

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