This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 677, an undergraduate course at UW-Madison Spring 2012
Possible treatments for SCA2
There are currently no treatments or cures for spinocerebellar ataxia 2. However, at least one drug has undergone phase I clinical trials for alleviating the symptoms of spinocerebellar ataxia 1, a member of the ataxia family of diseases.
The study took place from May 2008 through February 2010. 10 patients between the ages of 18-65 who had been molecularly diagnosed with SCA1 were divided into two groups: one group experienced gait difficulty and the other experienced gait difficult with tremor, speech difficulties and hand incoordination. The patients were administered 1.0-1.2 mmol/L of Lithium Carbonate. Over the course of three months the patients were evaluated for neurological function, ataxia and tremor evaluations, timed-up-and-go testing, quality of life assessment, questionnaires evaluating sleep, balance confidence and depression, memory testing, alertness assessment and quantitative balance/sway evaluations. [1]
In addition to this work, a research group at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas has found lithium to be effective in treating ataxia symptoms in mice. Dr. Huda Y. Zoghbi showed that SCA1 afflicted mice who were fed lithium exhibited improved learning, memory and coordination. Lithium was also able to reversed neural degeneration in the hippocampus. [2]
The study took place from May 2008 through February 2010. 10 patients between the ages of 18-65 who had been molecularly diagnosed with SCA1 were divided into two groups: one group experienced gait difficulty and the other experienced gait difficult with tremor, speech difficulties and hand incoordination. The patients were administered 1.0-1.2 mmol/L of Lithium Carbonate. Over the course of three months the patients were evaluated for neurological function, ataxia and tremor evaluations, timed-up-and-go testing, quality of life assessment, questionnaires evaluating sleep, balance confidence and depression, memory testing, alertness assessment and quantitative balance/sway evaluations. [1]
In addition to this work, a research group at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas has found lithium to be effective in treating ataxia symptoms in mice. Dr. Huda Y. Zoghbi showed that SCA1 afflicted mice who were fed lithium exhibited improved learning, memory and coordination. Lithium was also able to reversed neural degeneration in the hippocampus. [2]
References
[1] NIH Clinical Trials
[2] Ruth SoRelle. "Lithium improves function in mice with form of ataxia". From the Labs, Vol. 6 Issue 8. October 2007. Baylor College of Medicine. Accessed at http://www.bcm.edu/fromthelab/vol06/is8/1007-5.html
[2] Ruth SoRelle. "Lithium improves function in mice with form of ataxia". From the Labs, Vol. 6 Issue 8. October 2007. Baylor College of Medicine. Accessed at http://www.bcm.edu/fromthelab/vol06/is8/1007-5.html