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Written by Siddharth Nath Edited by Dr. Ray Truant Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7) is unique amongst the SCAs in that it involves an organ besides the brain – the eye. Rather than problems with movement, the first hint that something may be wrong for SCA7 patients is often a subtle change Read More…
The information that allows the normal development and functioning of each human being is coded in DNA, which exists in all cells of the body. Several successive segments of DNA make up a gene, with the human body containing approximately 20,000. Every gene has a different arrangement of DNA segments Read More…
Written by Dr. Terri M Driessen Edited by Dr. David Bushart Mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of mitochondrial DNA is identified in an SCA1 mouse model. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes cell death in certain parts of the brain. The brain regions affected play important Read More…
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the way that living beings store the information that determines how they look and function. Think about DNA as the blueprints, or instructions, for life. All life forms – humans, cats, dogs, trees, and bacteria – all contain DNA. Your DNA is what carries the information Read More…
Written by Jorge Diogo Da Silva Edited by Dr. Maria do Carmo Costa Potential drug targets and biomarkers of SCA3/MJD revealed Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), also known as Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease that usually begins in mid-life. The mutation that causes SCA3 leads to the Read More…
Purkinje cells are important neuronal cells located in the outer layers of the cerebellum. The cerebellum is part of the brain that is primarily known for controlling sense of balance and movement but can also influence learning, memory, and mood. Purkinje cells receive lots of information from other neurons through Read More…
Written by Dr. Sriram Jayabal Edited by Dr. Brenda Toscano-Marquez Scientists uncover SACS, a gene containing the largest exon identified in vertebrates, which leads to ARSACS when mutated. What is your morning routine? Coffee first, right? Now, try to think of all the diverse movements you need to make to Read More…
Today marks the six-month anniversary of the SCAsource website launch. A big thank you to all who have read our posts and have come back for more! It is really exciting to see SCAsource grow from an idea shared between colleagues to an actual website that people read. Another thank Read More…
Written by Dr. Marija Cvetanovic Edited by Dr. Maxime W. Rousseaux New research (published Nov. 2018) reveals promising potential genetic therapy for SCA1. A research team comprised of scientists from academia and industry have tested a new treatment for Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), bringing disease-modifying therapy one step closer Read More…
Written by Hillary Handler Edited by Dr. David Bushart How researchers found that SCA1 is caused by an expanded, repetitive DNA sequence – a discovery that has allowed for accurate SCA1 diagnosis and more focused research strategies Before the true genetic basis of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 (SCA1) was discovered, Read More…
