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People with Friedreich's ataxia (FA) have abnormalities in their thinking flexibility including the inability to predict and inhibit a verbal response, according to a study published in the journal The Cerebellum.

Equistasi, a medical device, may improve limb and gait ataxia — a loss of control of voluntary muscular movement — in patients with hereditary cerebellar ataxia, such as Friedreich’s ataxia, but more studies are necessary to confirm these findings, researchers said. The study, “A Wearable Proprioceptive Stabilizer For…

Symptoms of late-onset Friedreich’s ataxia may be confused with those of another genetic disorder, Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) disease, according to a case study. Researchers called for a careful evaluation of patients to prevent misdiagnosis. The study, “Late-Onset Friedreich’s Ataxia (LOFA) Mimicking Charcot–Marie–Tooth Disease Type 2: What Is Similar And What…

Chondrial Therapeutics has licensed the investigational compound CTI-1601 for treating  Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) from Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation (IURTC) and Wake Forest University Health Sciences. The company said it has also secured $22.6 million in financing to advance the treatment. “The $22.6 million Series A financing, combined with the licensing…

Treating nerve cells derived from Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) patients with a molecule called compound 109 significantly increases the expression of the frataxin gene and protects the them from cell death induced by oxidative stress, suggests a study published in the scientific journal Human Molecular Genetics.

Liver growth factor (LGF) increased the frataxin protein and reduced oxidative stress when administered to mice with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). This approach leads to a partial restoration of motor coordination in mice and may be a new therapeutic approach to treat FA patients. The study, “Liver Growth Factor (LGF)…

Patients with Friedreich ataxia (FA) are more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease and growth hormone deficiency than those without FA, concludes a recent study. Researchers believe that these associations, which may be coincidental or a result of disease interaction or shared genetic features, warrant further research. The study, “Comorbid Medical Conditions…

Researchers found two chemical treatments that increased iron storage protein, called mitochondria ferritin, in cells from a Friedreich’s ataxia patient. These results suggest a potential treatment option for protecting against mitochondrial oxidative damage in these patients. The study, “Characterization of human mitochondrial ferritin promoter: identification of transcription factors and…

Noninvasive measurements of mitochondrial capacity in skeletal muscle of patients with Friedreich’s ataxia could be used to monitor disease severity and progression, according to a recent study. In contrast, the study failed to find a link between mitochondrial capacity or muscle endurance to perceptions of fatigue. The study,…

Heart transplantation could be a viable option in the long-term for Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) patients as suggested by the cases of three patients who remained alive, cognitively intact, and socially engaged following heart transplantation.