Clinical Research Directory

Efficacy of tDCS in Degenerative Ataxia

Degenerative cerebellar ataxias are a group of rare diseases that cause gradual damage to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance and coordination. People with these conditions may have difficulty walking, keeping their balance, or coordinating movements. They may also experience vision problems, muscle stiffness, tremors, or changes in behavior, depending on the specific cause of the disease. These disorders can greatly affect independence and quality of life, and unfortunately, there are currently no treatments that can stop or reverse the disease. Most care focuses on managing symptoms with physical therapy and medication. Recently, a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been studied as a possible way to improve movement and thinking in people with ataxia. However, results so far have been mixed, possibly because of differences in disease type, treatment methods, and how improvements are measured. New technologies, such as motion sensors and movement analysis, are helping researchers better measure the effects of treatments on walking, balance, and hand movements in daily life. The goal of the current study is to test whether stimulating the cerebellum with anodal tDCS can improve movement in people with different types of degenerative ataxia. The study will use both standard clinical scales and precise movement analysis to measure changes. In addition, researchers will use brain recordings (EEG) taken before and after stimulation to better understand how tDCS may work in the brain

Rare Disease Patient Registry & Natural History Study - Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford

CoRDS, or the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford, is based at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It provides researchers with a centralized, international patient registry for all rare diseases. This program allows patients and researchers to connect as easily as possible to help advance treatments and cures for rare diseases. The CoRDS team works with patient advocacy groups, individuals and researchers to help in the advancement of research in over 7,000 rare diseases. The registry is free for patients to enroll and researchers to access. Visit sanfordresearch.org/CoRDS to enroll.