View clinical trials related to Ataxia.
Filter by:Neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxias represent a group of disabling disorders for which we 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, the investigators will evaluate whether a two-weeks' treatment with cerebellar anodal tDCS and spinal cathodal tDCS can improve symptoms in patients with neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxia and can modulate cerebello-motor connectivity, at short and long term.
Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have difficulties performing daily activities which reflects negatively on participation, impacting their lives. To date, there are a number of interventions to improve performance of these children on activities they want or need to. In Brazil, there is little research on the efficacy of such approaches. Our main objective was to start a set of studies to examine the effects of the Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance Approach (CO-OP Approach) protocol on occupational performance and satisfaction of Brazilian children who have DCD; to examine whether children were able to transfer strategies and skills learned during CO-OP to untrained goals.
The project will study a therapeutic approach in Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA38) by DHA replacement. SCA38 is caused by missense mutations in the ELOVL5 (Elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 5) gene. Background/Rationale: ELOVL5 is a microsomal fatty acid elongase gene required for the synthesis of arachidonic acid and DHA. In brain, it shows a peculiar high expression in cerebellar Purkinje cells. The ELOVL5 products, such as DHA, are decreased in SCA38 patients serum and DHA administered as a dietary supplement has been shown to improve SARA scores, to ameliorate quality of life, and to increase brain cerebellar hypometabolism (FDG-PET) in two SCA38 patients. Experimental Plan: The investigators will perform a randomized placebo-controlled trial by DHA supplementation on ten SCA38 patients, followed by an open-label phase. Expected results: DHA supplementation should be able to improve symptoms in SCA38 and to improve cerebellar hypometabolism in these patients.
To investigate the effects of whole body vibration on postural control and on the level of satisfaction regarding how to reach the goals of the patients with ataxia
The aim of this study was to integrate a gaze training intervention (i.e., quiet eye training; QET) that has been shown to improve the throwing and catching skill of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), within an approach (i.e., group therapy) that might alleviate the psychosocial influence of these motor skill deficits.
Genetic cerebellar ataxias involves progressive degeneration of the cerebellum. Their overall prevalence is estimated at 2-4 cases per 100 000 people. These diseases are manifested by a static and kinetic cerebellar syndrome characterized by impaired balance, coordination, and an ataxic gait. To date, no therapy is available for patients and physical therapy is essential and recommended. The evolution of the pathology causes a degradation of walking, increased instability and risk of falling. In one year, between 74% and 93% of patients reported having fallen at least once. Falls prevention by understanding the mechanisms affecting stability is a major issue in the management of these patients physiotherapy. The analysis of the literature, we assume that there exists a trio "fatigue - instability - energy expenditure" in which the three parameters would influence each other. To date, we do not have data to characterize these interrelationships and their evolution over time. STUDY OBJECTIVES: The main objective is to study the relationship between changes in energy expenditure and changes in instability when walking at one year in patients with cerebellar ataxia gene. The secondary objectives are to study, after one year of development, the relationship between fatigue, instability, energy consumption, the number of falls, the severity of ataxia and quality of life. CONDUCT OF THE STUDY: This is a pilot, multicenter, interventional. The projected duration of patient recruitment will be 12 months and the total number of patients will be included in 15. The duration of participation in this study is 12 months for each patient. The anticipated duration of the study is 30 months. Development of the study: Patients included will perform two sets (S1 and S2) tests a year apart including the evaluation of ataxia according Scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA); measuring the quality of life through SF36 (The Short Form (36)) Questionnaire; quantifying the severity of fatigue perceived by FSS questionnaire quantifying the severity of physical tiredness by VAS before and after physical activity; quantified analysis of walking on walking track GAITRite® (with score calculation FAP and GVI) before and after physical activity; physical activity like walking on a treadmill (with measurement of maximal voluntary quadriceps by manual dynamometer before and after physical activity to ensure the induction of fatigue). Patients will be provided with a portable device for analyzing gas exchange FitMateMED® (COSMED, Rome, Italy) during walking analyzes GAITRite®.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of virtual reality-base training for cerebellar ataxia.
This study evaluates the effectiveness of a 12-week in home balance training program with and without sensory augmentation for individuals with ataxia. Subjects wear a belt while performing balance exercises three times per week for 12 weeks. The belt measures body motion and has small vibrating elements called tactors mounted inside that when turned on, feel like a cell phone set to vibrate. The tactors provide information about body motion and indicate when and how to make a postural correction. Subjects will receive six weeks of balance training with the tactors turned on and six weeks of balance training with the tactors turned off.
Exergame training might offer a novel treatment approach even in largely nonambulatory subjects with multisystemic degenerative spinocerebellar ataxia.
Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disease with an incidence of 1/50,000 in the Caucasian population. The main manifestations of FA are progressive sensory and cerebellar ataxia and cardiomyopathy (CM). It is the most common form of inherited ataxia. A severe CM affects ~60% of FA patients, mostly young adults, and leads to cardiac failure then death. Currently, no therapy can change the course of this severe cardiomyopathy. This study is designed to characterize the cardiac manifestations of FA using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), echocardiography, serum cardiac biomarkers and evaluation of fatigue severity, in the context of the neurological disease.