2006 issue 1

Back

Volume 22, issue 1

Review article

Future perspectives in therapy of spinocerebellar ataxias

Michał Modestowicz1
1. Studenckie Koło Naukowe przy Klinice Neurologii Akademii Medycznej w Poznaniu
Farmakoterapia w Psychiatrii i Neurologii, 2006, 1, 41–48
Keywords: spinocerebellar ataxia, ataxia, SCA, treatment, therapy, drug

Abstract

Spinocerebellar ataxias are a group of hereditary neurodegenerative disorders caused by a change in a number of repetitive DNA sequences in a particular gene, i.e. dynamic mutation. These changes cause progressive degeneration of Purkinje cells in cerebellum and neurons of brainstem, which leads to the emergence of typical symptoms: ataxia of gait, posture and limbs, dysarthria, pyramidal and extrapyramidal disorders, amyotrophy, cognitive impairment etc. Currently, treatment of this group of diseases is purely symptomatic. However, research into these disorders resulted in the discovery of molecular pathways and potential therapeutic targets, among others: suppression of neuronal intranuclear inclusions formation, activation of ubiquitin/proteasome pathway, inhibition of caspases and preventing excytotoxicity and oxidative stress. Clinical use of this knowledge may provide the means to developing effective therapeutic strategy of these currently incurable diseases.

Address for correspondence:
Michał Modestowicz
Studenckie Koło Naukowe przy Klinice Neurologii Akademii Medycznej im. K. Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu
ul. Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355 Poznań
tel: 061 867 98 87, 061 869 15 35, fax: 061 869 91 97
e-mail: michal@modestowicz.com