Alexandra Andersson, PhD,  —

Patients with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) show notable mental health stability despite physical decline compared to patients with other neurodegenerative disorders. These findings are reported in a three-year longitudinal study of FA patients, using self-reporting questionnaire scales. In the study, “A longitudinal study of the SF-36 version 2 in Friedreich ataxia,” published…

The frataxin gene regulates iron storage in cells, but mutations in the gene are known to cause Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). A study now shows the mutation causes iron toxicity and the loss of nerve cells in fruit flies, an effect prevented when they were put on a low-iron diet. The…