Ataxia News and Research

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Ataxia is a neurological sign and symptom that consists of gross lack of coordination of muscle movements. Ataxia is a non-specific clinical manifestation implying disfunction of the parts of the nervous system that coordinate movement, such as the cerebellum.

CZI announces $4.5 million to advance novel approaches in neurodegeneration field

Today, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative announced $4.5 million in funding to support 30 pairs of researchers to collaborate and apply novel approaches for gaining greater insight into neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS.

19 Aug 2020

Study investigates onset of spinocerebellar ataxia associated with loss of motor coordination

A European research alliance tracks the onset of ataxias "Spinocerebellar ataxias" are diseases of the nervous system associated with a loss of motor coordination.

19 Aug 2020

New approach improves SCA1 symptoms in animal models

Research has shown that a mutation in the ATAXIN-1 gene leads to accumulation of Ataxin-1 (ATXN1) protein in brain cells and is the root cause of a rare genetic neurodegenerative disease known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1).

7 Aug 2020

Research reveals potential early indicator of Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome

A new paper in the journal NeuroImage: Clinical from researchers at the University of Kansas reveals a possible early indicator of Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, or FXTAS.

4 Aug 2020

Study identifies common characteristics of pediatric vestibular schwannomas

Vestibular schwannomas, more commonly known as acoustic neuromas, are benign brain tumors that develop on the balance (vestibular) and hearing or auditory nerves leading from the inner ear to the brain.

23 Jul 2020

Developing Vaccines and Therapeutics by Exploiting Structure in Spherical Nucleic Acids

An interview discussing the use of spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) and what they show about the importance of structure in pharmaceutical development.

From Pittcon 2 Jul 2020

Novel brain pathology could improve diagnosis, treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Bristol scientists have discovered a novel pathology that occurs in several human neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease.

30 Jun 2020

SAFB1 may be a diagnostic marker for neurodegenerative diseases, shows study

Bristol scientists have discovered a novel pathology that occurs in several human neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease.

30 Jun 2020

Exercise has profound protective effect in mouse models of Friedreich's ataxia

A top exercise researcher at the University of Virginia School of Medicine is urging clinical trials of exercise in patients with Friedreich's ataxia after finding that physical activity has a "profound" protective effect in mouse models of the debilitating genetic disease.

16 Jun 2020

Challenges of diagnosing Lyme disease in the absence of classic symptoms

Lyme disease can have unusual presentations. Physicians and the public should be aware of its different manifestations, as people spend more time outside in the warmer weather and as the areas in Canada where the black legged tick is found expand.

26 May 2020

Researchers identify a natural amino acid as potential treatment for polyQ diseases

Familial spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), Huntington disease, and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy are inherited neurodegenerative diseases.

25 May 2020

Scientists gain new insight into the pathological mechanisms behind two neurodegenerative diseases

An international team led by Emory scientists has gained insight into the pathological mechanisms behind two devastating neurodegenerative diseases.

6 May 2020

Improper cellular cleanup during neurodevelopment may cause lifelong behavioral issues

Improper removal of faulty brain cells during neurodevelopment may cause lifelong behavioral issues, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggests.

9 Apr 2020

Research provides better understanding of how tremor happens

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital have improved our understanding of how tremor -- the most common movement disorder -- happens, opening the possibility of novel therapies for this condition.

19 Mar 2020

Maine voters consider U-turn on vaccine exemptions

As Mainers head to the polls on Super Tuesday for the presidential primary, they also will decide another issue: vaccine requirements. A statewide referendum asks if voters want to overturn a new law that eliminates religious and philosophical exemptions for childhood vaccines.

3 Mar 2020

How cannabis interacts with medications

A new practice guideline published in the journal CMAJ in February 2020 describes five types of drug interactions possible with the use of cannabis. Cannabis is a plant-derived drug containing the psychoactive ingredient delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD). These cannabinoids are broken down by the liver enzymes cytochrome P450 C(YP)34A, and CYP2CC9.

2 Mar 2020

DNA topological problems may cause lymphoma, study shows

Researchers from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, and the Andalusian Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine Centre, Seville, published today a paper in Nature Communications that shows that DNA topological problems may cause endogenous DNA breaks that have a causal relationship with cancer.

24 Feb 2020

New study expands the knowledge on tumor-suppressor role of HERC proteins

The RAF protein could be a therapeutical target to treat the tumor growth in regulated pathways by the p38 protein, according to a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports by a team of experts of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona and the Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research.

20 Feb 2020

Observational study uncovers largest outbreak of neurologic illness to date in the U.S.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases recently published the results of an observational study led by researchers on Children's Hospital Colorado Infectious Disease and Neurology teams, along with counterparts at the Centers for Disease Control and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

8 Jan 2020

New molecular mechanism can reverse genetic defect responsible for Friedreich's ataxia

Scientists at Tufts University have identified a molecular mechanism that could reverse the genetic defect responsible for Friedreich's ataxia, a neurodegenerative disease that leaves its victims with difficulty walking, a loss of sensation in the arms and legs and impaired speech caused by degeneration of nerve tissue in the spinal cord.

6 Jan 2020