Common questions

How common is SCA3?

How common is SCA3?

Worldwide, SCA3 is thought to be the most common spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), comprising 20%-50% of families (reviewed in Klockgether et al [2019]).

What causes SCA3?

SCA3 is caused by a mutation in the ATXN3 gene and inheritance is autosomal dominant . There is no medication that slows the progressive course of the disease; management aims to relieve some symptoms and improve quality of life.

What causes SCA1?

Mutations in the ATXN1 gene cause SCA1. The ATXN1 gene provides instructions for making a protein called ataxin-1. This protein is found throughout the body, but its function is unknown. Within cells, ataxin-1 is located in the nucleus .

What is Drpla syndrome?

Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy, commonly known as DRPLA, is a progressive brain disorder that causes involuntary movements, mental and emotional problems, and a decline in thinking ability. The average age of onset of DRPLA is 30 years, but this condition can appear anytime from infancy to mid-adulthood.

What is ataxia SCA3?

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a condition characterized by progressive problems with movement. People with this condition initially experience problems with coordination and balance (ataxia).

What is Joseph Machado disease?

MACHADO-JOSEPH disease (MJD) is a late-onset, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that involves the cerebellar, ocular motor, pyramidal, extrapyramidal, and peripheral motor systems. The mean age at onset is 40.5 years. The estimated median survival time is 20 years.

How many people have SCA1?

Epidemiology. The National Institute of Health reports that SCA1 has a prevalence of approximately 1 or 2 per 100,000 however a review of literature has shown that these estimates vary significantly from study to study and can be less than 1 per 100,000 or as high as 6 per 100,000.

Is Huntington’s disease autosomal dominant?

Huntington’s disease is an autosomal dominant disorder, which means that a person needs only one copy of the defective gene to develop the disorder. With the exception of genes on the sex chromosomes, a person inherits two copies of every gene — one copy from each parent.