Monitoring ataxia

In order to measure the progression of a person’s ataxia and to evaluate the effects of interventions being tested in research trials, it is necessary to have good ways of objectively measuring ataxia. A network of researchers working together through the EUROSCA project have tried to address this need by developing a clinical examination-based scale for the ataxias, the SARA scale, and in 2006 published papers showing that it is an effective and reliable measure (Schmitz-Hübsch T et al 2006).
Another team of researchers has developed a system to evaluate how people’s quality of life is affected by Friedreich’s ataxia. This provided more knowledge on the impact of the condition on individuals and family and in the future could be used to help assess the effectiveness of new treatments. The system is now being used in the ongoing trial of Idebenone for Friedreich’s ataxia, and the researchers are planning to carry out studies to validate the system across other European countries and in different age groups i.e. for use in children as well as adults (Paper for publication in progress).

A recent study funded by Ataxia UK was looking at whether imaging the degree of dysfunction in particular parts of the brain with Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) would be a useful way of measuring the progression of ataxia. Results from this research study can be found here.

References

Schmitz-Hübsch T et al Neurology. 2006 Jun 13;66(11):1717-20

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Monitoring ataxia

References