A combination of exercise and an energy-boosting supplement may improve physical fitness in children and adults with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), although the added benefit of the supplement over exercise alone remains unclear, according to results from a clinical trial. Those who participated in a 12-week program combining aerobic and strength…
News
Treatment with nomlabofusp, Larimar Therapeutics’ experimental therapy for Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), leads to increased frataxin protein levels in cells throughout the body — changes that, according to new research, may be monitored using easily accessible skin or cheek cell samples. The new findings, based on analyses in mouse,…
May is Friedreich’s Ataxia Awareness Month, and patients, families, and caregivers are coming together to support one another and encourage local communities to help meet the ongoing need for funding to cure this disease. Friedreich’s Ataxia Day is May 16. Leading the efforts is the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance…
Doctors’ early diagnosis of advanced heart failure in a man with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) allowed for timely multidisciplinary evaluation that made heart transplant a viable and successful treatment option, according to a U.S. case report. More than two years after surgery, the man “continues to do well, living with his…
A hotel ballroom in Orlando filled with laughter as comedian Fiona Cauley performed at the banquet on the final night of the 2026 Annual Ataxia Conference (AAC). The audience responded enthusiastically to her set, which drew on personal experience. Cauley, who is living with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and…
Alyssa Hammers and her healthcare providers had been trying to determine the cause of her coordination problems, without success. Then, her cousin showed her a TikTok video about living with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). Hammers immediately recognized the similarities to her symptoms. Despite initial skepticism from her neurologist, Hammers was…
Living with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) can make managing daily activities and maintaining independence more difficult, especially as the disease progresses over time. For example, tremors or other FA symptoms can interfere with getting dressed, cooking, or brushing teeth. Elizabeth Foss, an occupational therapist and one of the…
When you’re living with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), maintaining independence can become more challenging over time due to mobility challenges and other symptoms. At the 2026 Annual Ataxia Conference (AAC) in Orlando, Florida, the session “Rehabilitation Strategies & Mobility Devices” discussed the value of exercise in the management of ataxias, including…
Brain scans of people with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) revealed reduced communication between the frontal cortex and the cerebellum, two-interconnected brain regions involved in planning and coordinating voluntary movement, a pattern that was tied to greater physical disability and cognitive difficulties. At the same time, connections within the cerebellum and between…
Living with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) often involves fatigue, a sense of profound exhaustion that can affect your independence and quality of life. A session presented at the 2026 Annual Ataxia Conference (AAC) in Orlando, Florida, offered practical advice for managing this common symptom of FA and…
Recent Posts
- Exercise improves fitness for kids, adults with FA, study finds
- Mental health struggles are a part of living with Friedreich’s ataxia
- This FA Awareness Month, I’m focusing on moments of intentional joy
- A powerful performance from the past reminds me that ‘It’s OK’
- Use of skin, cheek cells may help monitor nomlabofusp effects in FA