Spinocerebellar Ataxia News and Research

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Study reveals why rare neurological disease damages specific brain regions

Many neurological diseases damage specific parts of the brain, even though the harmful protein involved is present throughout the brain.

20 Jul 2026

Arginine slows amyloid buildup and improves brain outcomes in Alzheimer’s disease models

Arginine reduced amyloid beta aggregation in vitro and in both Drosophila and AppNL-G-F mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, leading to fewer dense-core plaques and improved behavior. The study provides preclinical evidence that oral arginine may modulate amyloid pathology, although high dosing requirements and model limitations constrain human translation.

24 Nov 2025

Study identifies key genetic markers for SCA6 diagnosis

The Department of Neurology at Niigata University and National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry NCNP has identified pathogenic thresholds for the CAG repeat units (RU) of the CACNA1A gene that causes SCA6.

3 Mar 2025

L-arginine shows potential in treating spinocerebellar ataxia type 6

A team led by Specially Appointed Associate Professor Tomohiko Ishihara and Professor Osamu Onodera at Niigata University, along with Professor Yoshitaka Nagai at Kindai University, conducted a randomized, double-blind trial on the efficacy and safety of L-arginine in treating Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6).

3 Dec 2024

PQBP3 protein found to play key role in aging and brain disorders

In a recent study published online on August 5 2024 in The EMBO Journal, researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) in Japan have uncovered a crucial piece of this puzzle by focusing on the role of a single nucleolar protein.

3 Sep 2024

SCA4 genetic breakthrough: Unveiling the cause of a devastating neurological disease

Some families call it a trial of faith. Others just call it a curse. The progressive neurological disease known as spinocerebellar ataxia 4 (SCA4) is a rare condition, but its effects on patients and their families can be severe.

29 Apr 2024

Atomic-level structural models of enzymes provide disease insights

When nucleic acids like DNA or RNA build up in a cell's cytoplasm, it sets off an alarm call for the immune system.

2 Apr 2024

Breakthrough discovery points to potential treatment for rare neurodegenerative disease

Imagine being middle-aged and starting to feel that you are off balance a lot and that you are having a hard time coordinating your movements.

27 Mar 2024

Uncovering the cellular roots of spinocerebellar ataxia type 6

Researchers from McGill University, led by Professor Alanna Watt of the Department of Biology, have identified previously unknown changes in brain cells affected by a neurological disease.

18 Jan 2024

UC Riverside scientists slow progression of Huntington's disease in flies and worms

Huntington's disease causes involuntary movements and dementia, has no cure, and is fatal. For the first time, UC Riverside scientists have shown they can slow its progression in flies and worms, opening the door to human treatments.

8 Nov 2023

Study establishes new link between genomic instability and bacterial protein in the urogenital tract

A team of researchers from the University of Maryland School of Maryland's (UMSOM) Institute of Human Virology (IHV), a Center of Excellence of the Global Virus Network (GVN), published new findings that emphasize the crucial role of the urinary and genital tract microbiota in adverse pregnancy outcomes and genomic instability that originate in the womb during fetal development.

17 Jul 2023

Repurposing or improving drugs for spinocerebellar ataxia type 5

A team of researchers has developed a new method to screen FDA-approved drugs to determine if they could be repurposed or improved to help patients with a rare, debilitating disease of the nervous system.

16 Feb 2023

Increasing Awareness Surrounding Ataxia

In this interview, we speak to Dr. Lauren Moore from the National Ataxia Foundation about the condition and the importance of raising awareness for ataxia.

31 Oct 2022

Study reveals a promising therapeutic target for spinocerebellar ataxia type 14

Spinocerebellar ataxias are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the degeneration of Purkinje cells, a major class of neurons in the cerebellum.

3 Oct 2022

NIH researchers develop three-dimensional structure of twinkle protein

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health have developed a three-dimensional structure that allows them to see how and where disease mutations on the twinkle protein can lead to mitochondrial diseases.

5 Aug 2022

A class of protein-cleaving enzymes suspected to play a role in hereditary brain disease

Similar to Alzheimer's disease, the hereditary disease spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17) leads to the destruction of brain nerve cells and the premature death of patients.

21 Jun 2022

Research describes how DNA damage can affect neural health and function

A new research paper in the journal EMBO Reports describes how DNA damage can affect neural health and function.

12 May 2022

JPND announces call for multinational research on understanding the mechanisms of non-pharmacological interventions

The EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) initiative has announced a joint transnational call for multinational research on understanding the mechanisms of non-pharmacological interventions.

10 Jan 2022

Mutated enzyme impairs communication between neurons and causes motor defects in SCA34 model

In one type of a rare, inherited genetic disorder that affects control of body movement, scientists have found a mutation in an enzyme that impairs communication between neurons and what should be the inherent ability to pick up our pace when we need to run, instead of walk, across the street.

17 Aug 2021

Optimizing the operation of MRI scanners to visualize finer details of the brain

Experts in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the DZNE are optimizing the operation of MRI scanners as part of an international research effort to enable visualization of finer details of the human brain.

12 Jul 2021