News

A new form of sun protection that works by chelating, or binding, excess iron within mitochondria may not only protect against UVA rays that current lotions are unable to block, but also lead to new treatments for  Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). The compound, named “mitoiron claw” by the scientific team in the U.K. that developed it, is thought capable…

The mechanism leading to cell death in Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA) has been described in a new study published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.

Neurodegeneration in Friedreich’s ataxia can be independent of faulty mitochondria and oxidant molecules. Rather, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, demonstrated that iron toxicity contributed to disease processes in a fruit fly model of the disease. The study, “Loss of Frataxin induces iron toxicity, sphingolipid synthesis, and…

The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) has announced the 2016 winners of the Ataxian Athlete Initiative (AAI), a unique program providing adaptive cycling equipment to people with ataxia who have shown a strong commitment to staying healthy and fit despite their progressive illness. Since 2009, 33 people have been…

Production of frataxin protein in most Friedreich ataxia patients is blocked by gene mutations that prevent the reading (transcription) of the gene, but new research shows that the obstruction can be overcome using a drug to block HDAC (histone deacetylator) enzymes involved in the process and that the effect of the…

The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) joined the California NAACP and other patient advocacy groups to listen to opinions and concerns about SB 1010 — a controversial California state bill that could potentially impact Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) care in the state. Those opposed to the bill, sponsored by state Sen. Ed Hernandez, claim it “prioritizes…

Heart tissue from deceased patients with Friedreich’s ataxia was found to have quite low levels of copper, according to a recent study. Its authors suggest that copper supplements may benefit people with FA, although the link between copper levels and cardiomyopathy needs further research. The study, “Abundance and Significance of Iron, Zinc, Copper,…

People with Friedreich ataxia have lower than usual levels of cell-free mitochondrial DNA circulating in the bloodstream, but higher levels of nuclear DNA, a finding that might result in new biomarkers to monitor these patients in clinical trials. Research in Friedreich ataxia would benefit from the existence of a non-invasive biomarker of…

Jupiter Orphan Therapeutics Inc. (JOT) announced that David Sinclair, a Harvard Medical School professor with an interest in the dietary supplement resveratrol and its potential benefit in treating diseases such as Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), has joined the company as the co-chairman of its scientific advisory board. Professor…

Although Friedreich’s ataxia is mainly associated with the degeneration of neurons, a recent report shows that glial satellite cells in the spinal cord are also affected by the frataxin gene mutation. This appears to be a process independent of neuronal cell death, and likely contributes to disease manifestations in Friedreich’s…