Dalfampridine and Gait in Spinocerebellar Ataxias

University of Florida20 enrolled

Overview

Investigators expect there will be improvement in walking speed and steadiness after taking Dalfampridine, thereby improving activities of daily living and enhancing social and occupational functions for patients with spinocerebellar ataxia.

Twenty spinocerebellar ataxia patients will be randomized to receive either Dalfampridine or placebo over a total period of 10 weeks. After entering the study, patients will return every 2 weeks for evaluation. After four weeks, intervention will be stopped and patient will enter a 2-week wash out period where they do not take any drug. Then, patients will be given the opposite treatment (Dalfampridine or placebo) and this "crossover" study will be performed for another 4 weeks. Investigators expect there will be improvement in walking speed and steadiness after taking Dalfampridine, thereby improving activities of daily living and enhancing social and occupational functions.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Spinocerebellar Ataxias Type 1 Spinocerebellar Ataxias Type 2 Spinocerebellar Ataxias Type 3 Spinocerebellar Ataxias Type 6

Interventions

DalfampridineDRUG

Dalfampridine will be provided at an oral dose of 10mg every 12 hours, for 4 weeks period

PlaceboDRUG

Placebo will be administered orally every 12 hours, for a 4 week period.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals at age 18 years or older. * Individuals who can provide the informed consent * Genetic confirmed definite spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) * Able to complete two trials of the timed 25-foot walk at screening Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who has severe ataxia and unable to ambulate. * Any orthopedic condition that would affect motor performance. * Patients with secondary ataxia from general medical disorders * Individuals who have major psychiatric disorders that prevents compliance * History of epilepsy * Patients with active drug or alcohol use or dependence that would interfere with adherence to study requirements * Inability or unwillingness of subject or legal guardian/representative to give written informed consent.

Locations (1)

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Timed 25 Feet Walking Test (T25FW)

The patient is directed to one end of a clearly marked 25-foot course and is instructed to walk 25 feet as quickly as possible, but safely. The time, in seconds, is calculated from the initiation of the instruction to start and ends when the patient has reached the 25-foot mark. Baseline values are recorded twice. One was at the beginning of the intervention. The second was 2 weeks after washout period and before the second intervention.

Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after Dalfampridine or placebo

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Scale of Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA)

Scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) is a clinical scale that is based on a semiquantitative assessment of cerebellar ataxia on an impairment level. SARA has 8 items that are related to gait, stance, sitting, speech, finger-chase test, nose-finger test, fast alternating movements and heel-shin test. SARA score ranges from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating more severe disease.

Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after Dalfampridine or placebo

Biomechanical Assessment of Gait (BAG)-Stride Length

Biomechanical Assessment of Gait is a sensitive, quantitative movement analysis system. Stride length was analyzed. Baseline values are recorded twice. One was at the beginning of the intervention. The second was 2 weeks after washout period and before the second intervention.

Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after Dalfampridine or placebo

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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