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Why do we need mouse models for disease research? Mouse models are crucial for understanding human diseases. They allow researchers to study how diseases develop and to test potential treatments in ways that wouldn’t be possible in humans. But how do scientists create mouse models that mimic specific diseases? One widely used Read More…
When I had my tinnitus investigated in 2007, a balance disorder was discovered. I was put in touch with a neurologist who suspected something called Ataxia. I have had poor balance my whole life and have had difficulty with certain games and sports. Music and art were my salvation. I Read More…
Written by Yujia Li Edited by Celeste Suart, PhD Walking test in a hospital is not the same as walking at home. Wearable sensors show that real-world walking is more variable than in the hospital. We don’t usually think about how we walk until walking starts to feel different. Walking actually takes more effort than we realize. In spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) patients, changes Read More…
Finding Balance: My Journey to a Rare Diagnosis For years, I brushed off the dizziness, fatigue, and the way my feet sometimes seemed to have minds of their own. I’d trip over nothing, bump into door frames, and occasionally lose my balance mid-step. Friends would laugh and call me “graceful Read More…
My name is Jorge Alonso, I am 33 years old I was diagnosed with ataxia at 31 or 30, although I really felt the disease since I was 15 years old, before I played soccer, suddenly I fell I began to feel limitations when I ran so I stopped playing, Read More…
Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs) are standards for nonclinical research studies. These standards must be met before the research data can be accepted and reviewed by a regulatory agency. A nonclinical study involves experiments to determine the safety of a product. But not in people! Nonclinical studies are performed before they are ever tested in people. Examples might be laboratory-based research, preclinical trials using animal models, toxicology assessments, or even environmental studies. Only after the Read More…
Hello, I’m Abdulrahman – in the beginning I was shocked, but then I digested the news, my lifestyle and way of living really helped me in overcoming these hardships When Were You Diagnosed? Which Type (If Known)? October 2023 How Has Ataxia Impacted Your Life? It has been challenging and Read More…
Written by Victoria Martinez Faces of Ataxia Research highlights scientists whose work is supported by grants from NAF. Each story shows how our donors are fueling discoveries that bring us closer to effective treatments and a cure for Ataxia. Meet the Researcher Project title: Pioneer SCA3 Translational Research Award (2024): Read More…
A computer tomography (CT) scan, also called a CAT scan, is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses X-rays and a computer to help doctors see inside your body. CT scans provide detailed, cross-sectional pictures of bones, soft tissues, and organs that doctors can use to detect problems like injuries, infections, Read More…
Living and Dying with Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7: A Carer’s Perspective Affiliation: Husband and primary carer of patient with confirmed SCA7 (ATXN7 gene, 10/49 CAG repeats) Background Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7 (SCA7) is a rare, autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia and cone-rod retinal dystrophy. The following Read More…
