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Hermle D, Schubert R, Barallon P, Ilg W, Schüle R, Reilmann R, Synofzik M, Traschütz A. Multifeature quantitative motor assessment of upper limb ataxia including drawing and reaching. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2024; 11:1097-1109. [PMID: 38590028 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.52024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Voluntary upper limb movements are an ecologically important yet insufficiently explored digital-motor outcome domain for trials in degenerative ataxia. We extended and validated the trial-ready quantitative motor assessment battery "Q-Motor" for upper limb movements with clinician-reported, patient-focused, and performance outcomes of ataxia. METHODS Exploratory single-center cross-sectional assessment in 94 subjects (46 cross-genotype ataxia patients; 48 matched controls), comprising five tasks measured by force transducer and/or position field: Finger Tapping, diadochokinesia, grip-lift, and-as novel implementations-Spiral Drawing, and Target Reaching. Digital-motor measures were selected if they discriminated from controls (AUC >0.7) and correlated-with at least one strong correlation (rho ≥0.6)-to the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), activities of daily living (FARS-ADL), and the Nine-Hole Peg Test (9HPT). RESULTS Six movement features with 69 measures met selection criteria, including speed and variability in all tasks, stability in grip-lift, and efficiency in Target Reaching. The novel drawing/reaching tasks best captured impairment in dexterity (|rho9HPT| ≤0.81) and FARS-ADL upper limb items (|rhoADLul| ≤0.64), particularly by kinematic analysis of smoothness (SPARC). Target hit rate, a composite of speed and endpoint precision, almost perfectly discriminated ataxia and controls (AUC: 0.97). Selected measures in all tasks discriminated between mild, moderate, and severe impairment (SARA upper limb composite: 0-2/>2-4/>4-6) and correlated with severity in the trial-relevant mild ataxia stage (SARA ≤10, n = 20). INTERPRETATION Q-Motor assessment captures multiple features of impaired upper limb movements in degenerative ataxia. Validation with key clinical outcome domains provides the basis for evaluation in longitudinal studies and clinical trial settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Hermle
- Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Winfried Ilg
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tübingen, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rebecca Schüle
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Center of Neurology and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ralf Reilmann
- George-Huntington-Institute, Münster, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Center of Neurology and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Traschütz
- Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
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Seemann J, Daghsen L, Cazier M, Lamy JC, Welter ML, Giese MA, Synofzik M, Durr A, Ilg W, Coarelli G. Digital Gait Measures Capture 1-Year Progression in Early-Stage Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2. Mov Disord 2024; 39:788-797. [PMID: 38419144 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With disease-modifying drugs in reach for cerebellar ataxias, fine-grained digital health measures are highly warranted to complement clinical and patient-reported outcome measures in upcoming treatment trials and treatment monitoring. These measures need to demonstrate sensitivity to capture change, in particular in the early stages of the disease. OBJECTIVE Our aim is to unravel gait measures sensitive to longitudinal change in the-particularly trial-relevant-early stage of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2). METHODS We performed a multicenter longitudinal study with combined cross-sectional and 1-year interval longitudinal analysis in early-stage SCA2 participants (n = 23, including nine pre-ataxic expansion carriers; median, ATXN2 CAG repeat expansion 38 ± 2; median, Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia [SARA] score 4.8 ± 4.3). Gait was assessed using three wearable motion sensors during a 2-minute walk, with analyses focused on gait measures of spatio-temporal variability that have shown sensitivity to ataxia severity (eg, lateral step deviation). RESULTS We found significant changes for gait measures between baseline and 1-year follow-up with large effect sizes (lateral step deviation P = 0.0001, effect size rprb = 0.78), whereas the SARA score showed no change (P = 0.67). Sample size estimation indicates a required cohort size of n = 43 to detect a 50% reduction in natural progression. Test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change analysis confirm the accuracy of detecting 50% of the identified 1-year change. CONCLUSIONS Gait measures assessed by wearable sensors can capture natural progression in early-stage SCA2 within just 1 year-in contrast to a clinical ataxia outcome. Lateral step deviation represents a promising outcome measure for upcoming multicenter interventional trials, particularly in the early stages of cerebellar ataxia. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Seemann
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lina Daghsen
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute-ICM, Inserm, CNRS, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Matthieu Cazier
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute-ICM, Inserm, CNRS, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Charles Lamy
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute-ICM, Inserm, CNRS, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Laure Welter
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute-ICM, Inserm, CNRS, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Martin A Giese
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexandra Durr
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute-ICM, Inserm, CNRS, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Winfried Ilg
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Giulia Coarelli
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute-ICM, Inserm, CNRS, AP-HP, Paris, France
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Manto M, Hadjivassiliou M, Baizabal-Carvallo JF, Hampe CS, Honnorat J, Joubert B, Mitoma H, Muñiz-Castrillo S, Shaikh AG, Vogrig A. Consensus Paper: Latent Autoimmune Cerebellar Ataxia (LACA). CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:838-855. [PMID: 36991252 PMCID: PMC10060034 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01550-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias (IMCAs) have diverse etiologies. Patients with IMCAs develop cerebellar symptoms, characterized mainly by gait ataxia, showing an acute or subacute clinical course. We present a novel concept of latent autoimmune cerebellar ataxia (LACA), analogous to latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). LADA is a slowly progressive form of autoimmune diabetes where patients are often initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The sole biomarker (serum anti-GAD antibody) is not always present or can fluctuate. However, the disease progresses to pancreatic beta-cell failure and insulin dependency within about 5 years. Due to the unclear autoimmune profile, clinicians often struggle to reach an early diagnosis during the period when insulin production is not severely compromised. LACA is also characterized by a slowly progressive course, lack of obvious autoimmune background, and difficulties in reaching a diagnosis in the absence of clear markers for IMCAs. The authors discuss two aspects of LACA: (1) the not manifestly evident autoimmunity and (2) the prodromal stage of IMCA's characterized by a period of partial neuronal dysfunction where non-specific symptoms may occur. In order to achieve an early intervention and prevent cell death in the cerebellum, identification of the time-window before irreversible neuronal loss is critical. LACA occurs during this time-window when possible preservation of neural plasticity exists. Efforts should be devoted to the early identification of biological, neurophysiological, neuropsychological, morphological (brain morphometry), and multimodal biomarkers allowing early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention and to avoid irreversible neuronal loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Manto
- Service de Neurologie, Médiathèque Jean Jacquy, CHU-Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium
- Service des Neurosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Jerome Honnorat
- French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
- Institut NeuroMyoGene MELIS INSERM U1314/CNRS UMR 5284, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Bastien Joubert
- French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, Bron, France
- Institut NeuroMyoGene MELIS INSERM U1314/CNRS UMR 5284, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Hiroshi Mitoma
- Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | | | - Aasef G Shaikh
- Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Alberto Vogrig
- Clinical Neurology, Udine University Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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Shah VV, Muzyka D, Jagodinsky A, McNames J, Casey H, El-Gohary M, Sowalsky K, Safarpour D, Carlson-Kuhta P, Schmahmann JD, Rosenthal LS, Perlman S, Horak FB, Gomez CM. Digital Measures of Postural Sway Quantify Balance Deficits in Spinocerebellar Ataxia. Mov Disord 2024; 39:663-673. [PMID: 38357985 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maintaining balance is crucial for independence and quality of life. Loss of balance is a hallmark of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify which standing balance conditions and digital measures of body sway were most discriminative, reliable, and valid for quantifying balance in SCA. METHODS Fifty-three people with SCA (13 SCA1, 13 SCA2, 14 SCA3, and 13 SCA6) and Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) scores 9.28 ± 4.36 and 31 healthy controls were recruited. Subjects stood in six test conditions (natural stance, feet together and tandem, each with eyes open [EO] and eyes closed [EC]) with an inertial sensor on their lower back for 30 seconds (×2). We compared test completion rate, test-retest reliability, and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for seven digital sway measures. Pearson's correlations related sway with the SARA and the Patient-Reported Outcome Measure of Ataxia (PROM ataxia). RESULTS Most individuals with SCA (85%-100%) could stand for 30 seconds with natural stance EO or EC, and with feet together EO. The most discriminative digital sway measures (path length, range, area, and root mean square) from the two most reliable and discriminative conditions (natural stance EC and feet together EO) showed intraclass correlation coefficients from 0.70 to 0.91 and AUCs from 0.83 to 0.93. Correlations of sway with SARA were significant (maximum r = 0.65 and 0.73). Correlations with PROM ataxia were mild to moderate (maximum r = 0.56 and 0.34). CONCLUSION Inertial sensor measures of extent of postural sway in conditions of natural stance EC and feet together stance EO were discriminative, reliable, and valid for monitoring SCA. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vrutangkumar V Shah
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies-A Clario Company, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Daniel Muzyka
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies-A Clario Company, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Adam Jagodinsky
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies-A Clario Company, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - James McNames
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies-A Clario Company, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Hannah Casey
- Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mahmoud El-Gohary
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies-A Clario Company, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Kristen Sowalsky
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies-A Clario Company, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Delaram Safarpour
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Jeremy D Schmahmann
- Ataxia Center, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Liana S Rosenthal
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Susan Perlman
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Fay B Horak
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies-A Clario Company, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Fichera M, Nanetti L, Monelli A, Castaldo A, Marchini G, Neri M, Vukaj X, Marzorati M, Porcelli S, Mariotti C. Accelerometer-based measures in Friedreich ataxia: a longitudinal study on real-life activity. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1342965. [PMID: 38567352 PMCID: PMC10985256 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1342965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Quantitative measurement of physical activity may complement neurological evaluation and provide valuable information on patients' daily life. We evaluated longitudinal changes of physical activity in patients with Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) using remote monitoring with wearable sensors. We performed an observational study in 26 adult patients with FRDA and 13 age-sex matched healthy controls (CTR). Participants were asked to wear two wearable sensors, at non-dominant wrist and at waist, for 7 days during waking hours. Evaluations were performed at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. We analysed the percentage of time spent in sedentary or physical activities, the Vector Magnitude on the 3 axes (VM3), and average number of steps/min. Study participants were also evaluated with ataxia clinical scales and functional tests for upper limbs dexterity and walking capability. Baseline data showed that patients had an overall reduced level of physical activity as compared to CTR. Accelerometer-based measures were highly correlated with clinical scales and disease duration in FRDA. Significantly changes from baseline to l-year follow-up were observed in patients for the following measures: (i) VM3; (ii) percentage of sedentary and light activity, and (iii) percentage of Moderate-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA). Reduction in physical activity corresponded to worsening in gait score of the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia. Real-life activity monitoring is feasible and well tolerated by patients. Accelerometer-based measures can quantify disease progression in FRDA over 1 year, providing objective information about patient's motor activities and supporting the usefulness of these data as complementary outcome measure in interventional trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Fichera
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Nanetti
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Monelli
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Castaldo
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Gloria Marchini
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Marianna Neri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Xhuljano Vukaj
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Segrate, Italy
| | - Mauro Marzorati
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Segrate, Italy
| | - Simone Porcelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Caterina Mariotti
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
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Sobanska A, Czerwosz L, Sulek A, Rola R, Stepniak I, Rakowicz M. Quantitative Evaluation of Stance as a Sensitive Biomarker of Postural Ataxia Development in Preclinical SCA1 Mutation Carriers. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024:10.1007/s12311-024-01679-w. [PMID: 38492164 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-024-01679-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the time between the first detection of postural control impairments and the evident manifestation of ataxia in preclinical SCA1 individuals. Twenty five preclinical SCA1 mutation carriers: 13 with estimated disease onset ≤ 6 years (SCA1 +) aged 27.8 ± 8.1 years; 12 with expected disease onset > 6 years (SCA1-) aged 26.6 ± 3.1 years and 26 age and sex matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent static posturography during 5 years of observation. The movements of the centre of feet pressure (COP) during quiet standing with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC) were quantified by calculating the mean radius (R), developed surface area (A) and mean COP movement velocity (V). Ataxia was evaluated by use of the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA).SCA1 + exhibited significantly worse quality of stance with EC vs. SCA1- (p < 0.05 for V) and HCs (p < 0.001) even 5 to 6 years before estimated disease onset. There were no statistically significant differences between SCA1- and HCs. A slow increase in Cohen's d effect size was observed for VEO up to the clinical manifestation of ataxia. VEO and AEC recorded in preclinical SCA1 individuals correlated slightly but statistically significantly with SARA (r = 0.47).The study confirms that static posturography detects COP sway changes in SCA1 preclinical gene carriers even 5 to 6 years before estimated disease onset. The quantitative evaluation of stance in preclinical SCA is a sensitive biomarker for the monitoring of the disease progression and may be useful in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sobanska
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Leszek Czerwosz
- Laboratory of Respiration Physiology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Sulek
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
- Faculty of Medicine, Lazarski University, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rafal Rola
- Department of Neurology, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Iwona Stepniak
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maria Rakowicz
- First Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
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Casey HL, Shah VV, Muzyka D, McNames J, El-Gohary M, Sowalsky K, Safarpour D, Carlson-Kuhta P, Schmahmann JD, Rosenthal LS, Perlman S, Rummey C, Horak FB, Gomez CM. Standing Balance Conditions and Digital Sway Measures for Clinical Trials of Friedreich's Ataxia. Mov Disord 2024. [PMID: 38469957 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progressive loss of standing balance is a feature of Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA). OBJECTIVES This study aimed to identify standing balance conditions and digital postural sway measures that best discriminate between FRDA and healthy controls (HC). We assessed test-retest reliability and correlations between sway measures and clinical scores. METHODS Twenty-eight subjects with FRDA and 20 HC completed six standing conditions: feet apart, feet together, and feet tandem, both with eyes opened (EO) and eyes closed. Sway was measured using a wearable sensor on the lumbar spine for 30 seconds. Test completion rate, test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients, and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) for each measure were compared to identify distinguishable FRDA sway characteristics from HC. Pearson correlations were used to evaluate the relationships between discriminative measures and clinical scores. RESULTS Three of the six standing conditions had completion rates over 70%. Of these three conditions, natural stance and feet together with EO showed the greatest completion rates. All six of the sway measures' mean values were significantly different between FRDA and HC. Four of these six measures discriminated between groups with >0.9 AUC in all three conditions. The Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale Upright Stability and Total scores correlated with sway measures with P-values <0.05 and r-values (0.63-0.86) and (0.65-0.81), respectively. CONCLUSION Digital postural sway measures using wearable sensors are discriminative and reliable for assessing standing balance in individuals with FRDA. Natural stance and feet together stance with EO conditions suggest use in clinical trials for FRDA. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L Casey
- Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Vrutangkumar V Shah
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies - a Clario company, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Daniel Muzyka
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies - a Clario company, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - James McNames
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies - a Clario company, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Mahmoud El-Gohary
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies - a Clario company, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Kristen Sowalsky
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies - a Clario company, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Delaram Safarpour
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Jeremy D Schmahmann
- Ataxia Center, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Liana S Rosenthal
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Susan Perlman
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Fay B Horak
- Precision Motion, APDM Wearable Technologies - a Clario company, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Jaarsma D, Birkisdóttir MB, van Vossen R, Oomen DWGD, Akhiyat O, Vermeij WP, Koekkoek SKE, De Zeeuw CI, Bosman LWJ. Different Purkinje cell pathologies cause specific patterns of progressive gait ataxia in mice. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 192:106422. [PMID: 38286390 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Gait ataxia is one of the most common and impactful consequences of cerebellar dysfunction. Purkinje cells, the sole output neurons of the cerebellar cortex, are often involved in the underlying pathology, but their specific functions during locomotor control in health and disease remain obfuscated. We aimed to describe the effect of gradual adult-onset Purkinje cell degeneration on gaiting patterns in mice, and to determine whether two different mechanisms that both lead to Purkinje cell degeneration cause different patterns in the development of gait ataxia. Using the ErasmusLadder together with a newly developed limb detection algorithm and machine learning-based classification, we subjected mice to a challenging locomotor task with detailed analysis of single limb parameters, intralimb coordination and whole-body movement. We tested two Purkinje cell-specific mouse models, one involving stochastic cell death due to impaired DNA repair mechanisms (Pcp2-Ercc1-/-), the other carrying the mutation that causes spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (Pcp2-ATXN1[82Q]). Both mouse models showed progressive gaiting deficits, but the sequence with which gaiting parameters deteriorated was different between mouse lines. Our longitudinal approach revealed that gradual loss of Purkinje cell function can lead to a complex pattern of loss of function over time, and that this pattern depends on the specifics of the pathological mechanisms involved. We hypothesize that this variability will also be present in disease progression in patients, and that our findings will facilitate the study of therapeutic interventions in mice, as subtle changes in locomotor abilities can be quantified by our methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dick Jaarsma
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3015 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Maria B Birkisdóttir
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3015 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Randy van Vossen
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3015 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Demi W G D Oomen
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3015 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Oussama Akhiyat
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3015 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wilbert P Vermeij
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, 3521 AL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Chris I De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3015 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Dutch Academy of Arts & Science, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Laurens W J Bosman
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, 3015 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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Ilg W, Milne S, Schmitz-Hübsch T, Alcock L, Beichert L, Bertini E, Mohamed Ibrahim N, Dawes H, Gomez CM, Hanagasi H, Kinnunen KM, Minnerop M, Németh AH, Newman J, Ng YS, Rentz C, Samanci B, Shah VV, Summa S, Vasco G, McNames J, Horak FB. Quantitative Gait and Balance Outcomes for Ataxia Trials: Consensus Recommendations by the Ataxia Global Initiative Working Group on Digital-Motor Biomarkers. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023:10.1007/s12311-023-01625-2. [PMID: 37955812 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01625-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
With disease-modifying drugs on the horizon for degenerative ataxias, ecologically valid, finely granulated, digital health measures are highly warranted to augment clinical and patient-reported outcome measures. Gait and balance disturbances most often present as the first signs of degenerative cerebellar ataxia and are the most reported disabling features in disease progression. Thus, digital gait and balance measures constitute promising and relevant performance outcomes for clinical trials.This narrative review with embedded consensus will describe evidence for the sensitivity of digital gait and balance measures for evaluating ataxia severity and progression, propose a consensus protocol for establishing gait and balance metrics in natural history studies and clinical trials, and discuss relevant issues for their use as performance outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winfried Ilg
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Otfried-Müller-Straße 25, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Sarah Milne
- Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Physiotherapy Department, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Frankston, VIC, Australia
| | - Tanja Schmitz-Hübsch
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation of Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Neuroscience Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lisa Alcock
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Lukas Beichert
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Enrico Bertini
- Research Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Bambino Gesu' Children's Research Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Helen Dawes
- NIHR Exeter BRC, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Hasmet Hanagasi
- Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Martina Minnerop
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1)), Research Centre Juelich, Juelich, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Center for Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andrea H Németh
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jane Newman
- NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Yi Shiau Ng
- Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Clara Rentz
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1)), Research Centre Juelich, Juelich, Germany
| | - Bedia Samanci
- Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Vrutangkumar V Shah
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- APDM Precision Motion, Clario, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Susanna Summa
- Movement Analysis and Robotics Laboratory (MARLab), Neurorehabilitation Unit, Neurological Science and Neurorehabilitation Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gessica Vasco
- Movement Analysis and Robotics Laboratory (MARLab), Neurorehabilitation Unit, Neurological Science and Neurorehabilitation Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - James McNames
- APDM Precision Motion, Clario, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Fay B Horak
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- APDM Precision Motion, Clario, Portland, OR, USA
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10
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Poleur M, Markati T, Servais L. The use of digital outcome measures in clinical trials in rare neurological diseases: a systematic literature review. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:224. [PMID: 37533072 PMCID: PMC10398976 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02813-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing drugs for rare diseases is challenging, and the precision and objectivity of outcome measures is critical to this process. In recent years, a number of technologies have increasingly been used for remote monitoring of patient health. We report a systematic literature review that aims to summarize the current state of progress with regard to the use of digital outcome measures for real-life motor function assessment of patients with rare neurological diseases. Our search of published literature identified 3826 records, of which 139 were included across 27 different diseases. This review shows that use of digital outcome measures for motor function outside a clinical setting is feasible and employed in a broad range of diseases, although we found few outcome measures that have been robustly validated and adopted as endpoints in clinical trials. Future research should focus on validation of devices, variables, and algorithms to allow for regulatory qualification and widespread adoption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Poleur
- Department of Neurology, Liege University Hospital Center, Liège, Belgium.
- Neuromuscular Reference Center, Division of Paediatrics University, Hospital University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Centre de Référence des Maladies Neuromusculaires, Centre Hospitalier Régional de la Citadelle, Boulevard du 12eme de Ligne 1, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
| | - Theodora Markati
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre and NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Laurent Servais
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre and NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Neuromuscular Reference Center, Division of Paediatrics University, Hospital University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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11
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Manto M, Cendelin J, Strupp M, Mitoma H. Advances in cerebellar disorders: pre-clinical models, therapeutic targets, and challenges. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:965-987. [PMID: 37768297 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2263911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cerebellar ataxias (CAs) represent neurological disorders with multiple etiologies and a high phenotypic variability. Despite progress in the understanding of pathogenesis, few therapies are available so far. Closing the loop between preclinical studies and therapeutic trials is important, given the impact of CAs upon patients' health and the roles of the cerebellum in multiple domains. Because of a rapid advance in research on CAs, it is necessary to summarize the main findings and discuss future directions. AREAS COVERED We focus our discussion on preclinical models, cerebellar reserve, the therapeutic management of CAs, and suitable surrogate markers. We searched Web of Science and PubMed using keywords relevant to cerebellar diseases, therapy, and preclinical models. EXPERT OPINION There are many symptomatic and/or disease-modifying therapeutic approaches under investigation. For therapy development, preclinical studies, standardization of disease evaluation, safety assessment, and demonstration of clinical improvements are essential. Stage of the disease and the level of the cerebellar reserve determine the goals of the therapy. Deficits in multiple categories and heterogeneity of CAs may require disease-, stage-, and symptom-specific therapies. More research is needed to clarify how therapies targeting the cerebellum influence both basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex, poorly explored domains in CAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Manto
- Service des Neurosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Jan Cendelin
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Strupp
- Department of Neurology and German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Hiroshi Mitoma
- Department of Medical Education, Tokyo medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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12
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Kadirvelu B, Gavriel C, Nageshwaran S, Chan JPK, Nethisinghe S, Athanasopoulos S, Ricotti V, Voit T, Giunti P, Festenstein R, Faisal AA. A wearable motion capture suit and machine learning predict disease progression in Friedreich's ataxia. Nat Med 2023; 29:86-94. [PMID: 36658420 PMCID: PMC9873563 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-02159-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is caused by a variant of the Frataxin (FXN) gene, leading to its downregulation and progressively impaired cardiac and neurological function. Current gold-standard clinical scales use simplistic behavioral assessments, which require 18- to 24-month-long trials to determine if therapies are beneficial. Here we captured full-body movement kinematics from patients with wearable sensors, enabling us to define digital behavioral features based on the data from nine FA patients (six females and three males) and nine age- and sex-matched controls, who performed the 8-m walk (8-MW) test and 9-hole peg test (9 HPT). We used machine learning to combine these features to longitudinally predict the clinical scores of the FA patients, and compared these with two standard clinical assessments, Spinocerebellar Ataxia Functional Index (SCAFI) and Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). The digital behavioral features enabled longitudinal predictions of personal SARA and SCAFI scores 9 months into the future and were 1.7 and 4 times more precise than longitudinal predictions using only SARA and SCAFI scores, respectively. Unlike the two clinical scales, the digital behavioral features accurately predicted FXN gene expression levels for each FA patient in a cross-sectional manner. Our work demonstrates how data-derived wearable biomarkers can track personal disease trajectories and indicates the potential of such biomarkers for substantially reducing the duration or size of clinical trials testing disease-modifying therapies and for enabling behavioral transcriptomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasundaram Kadirvelu
- Brain & Behaviour Lab, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Brain & Behaviour Lab, Department of Computing, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Constantinos Gavriel
- Brain & Behaviour Lab, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Brain & Behaviour Lab, Department of Computing, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sathiji Nageshwaran
- Epigenetic Mechanisms and Disease Group, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Jackson Ping Kei Chan
- Epigenetic Mechanisms and Disease Group, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Suran Nethisinghe
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Stavros Athanasopoulos
- Epigenetic Mechanisms and Disease Group, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Valeria Ricotti
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Thomas Voit
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Paola Giunti
- Institute of Neurology, UCL, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (UCLH), London, UK
| | - Richard Festenstein
- Epigenetic Mechanisms and Disease Group, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Institute of Neurology, UCL, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (UCLH), London, UK
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
| | - A Aldo Faisal
- Brain & Behaviour Lab, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Brain & Behaviour Lab, Department of Computing, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK.
- Behaviour Analytics Lab, Data Science Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Brain & Behaviour Lab, Institute for Artificial and Human Intelligence, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
- Chair in Digital Health, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
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13
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Röhling HM, Otte K, Rekers S, Finke C, Rust R, Dorsch EM, Behnia B, Paul F, Schmitz-Hübsch T. RGB-Depth Camera-Based Assessment of Motor Capacity: Normative Data for Six Standardized Motor Tasks. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16989. [PMID: 36554871 PMCID: PMC9779698 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Instrumental motion analysis constitutes a promising development in the assessment of motor function in clinical populations affected by movement disorders. To foster implementation and facilitate interpretation of respective outcomes, we aimed to establish normative data of healthy subjects for a markerless RGB-Depth camera-based motion analysis system and to illustrate their use. METHODS We recorded 133 healthy adults (56% female) aged 20 to 60 years with an RGB-Depth camera-based motion analysis system. Forty-three spatiotemporal parameters were extracted from six short, standardized motor tasks-including three gait tasks, stepping in place, standing-up and sitting down, and a postural control task. Associations with confounding factors, height, weight, age, and sex were modelled using a predictive linear regression approach. A z-score normalization approach was provided to improve usability of the data. RESULTS We reported descriptive statistics for each spatiotemporal parameter (mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, quartiles). Robust confounding associations emerged for step length and step width in comfortable speed gait only. Accessible normative data usage was lastly exemplified with recordings from one randomly selected individual with multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSION We provided normative data for an RGB depth camera-based motion analysis system covering broad aspects of motor capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Marie Röhling
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Motognosis GmbH, 10119 Berlin, Germany
| | - Karen Otte
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Motognosis GmbH, 10119 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophia Rekers
- Department of Neurology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Carsten Finke
- Department of Neurology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rebekka Rust
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Dorsch
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Behnoush Behnia
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Friedemann Paul
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tanja Schmitz-Hübsch
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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14
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Airaksinen M, Gallen A, Kivi A, Vijayakrishnan P, Häyrinen T, Ilén E, Räsänen O, Haataja LM, Vanhatalo S. Intelligent wearable allows out-of-the-lab tracking of developing motor abilities in infants. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2022; 2:69. [PMID: 35721830 PMCID: PMC9200857 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-022-00131-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Early neurodevelopmental care needs better, effective and objective solutions for assessing infants’ motor abilities. Novel wearable technology opens possibilities for characterizing spontaneous movement behavior. This work seeks to construct and validate a generalizable, scalable, and effective method to measure infants’ spontaneous motor abilities across all motor milestones from lying supine to fluent walking. Methods A multi-sensor infant wearable was constructed, and 59 infants (age 5–19 months) were recorded during their spontaneous play. A novel gross motor description scheme was used for human visual classification of postures and movements at a second-level time resolution. A deep learning -based classifier was then trained to mimic human annotations, and aggregated recording-level outputs were used to provide posture- and movement-specific developmental trajectories, which enabled more holistic assessments of motor maturity. Results Recordings were technically successful in all infants, and the algorithmic analysis showed human-equivalent-level accuracy in quantifying the observed postures and movements. The aggregated recordings were used to train an algorithm for predicting a novel neurodevelopmental measure, Baba Infant Motor Score (BIMS). This index estimates maturity of infants’ motor abilities, and it correlates very strongly (Pearson’s r = 0.89, p < 1e-20) to the chronological age of the infant. Conclusions The results show that out-of-hospital assessment of infants’ motor ability is possible using a multi-sensor wearable. The algorithmic analysis provides metrics of motility that are transparent, objective, intuitively interpretable, and they link strongly to infants’ age. Such a solution could be automated and scaled to a global extent, holding promise for functional benchmarking in individualized patient care or early intervention trials. Assessment of an infant’s motor abilities is a key part of regular health checks of infant development. However, there is shortage of methods that would allow objective and user-friendly tracking of infant motor abilities. We describe a system that measures infant’s posture and movement with sensors that are attached to the clothing. Movement signals are analyzed with a deep learning algorithm to predict maturity of motor abilities. The accuracy of analysis is comparable to human assessments. This system could enable early diagnosis of developmental delays, and it can be used to assess motor development in clinical trials. Airaksinen et al. describe an infant wearable system that accurately quantifies key aspects of infant motor ability and uses deep learning algorithms to analyze movement signals. Motor ability age and maturation can be predicted, with the predictions correlating with other clinical and parental assessments.
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15
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Ilg W, Müller B, Faber J, van Gaalen J, Hengel H, Vogt IR, Hennes G, van de Warrenburg B, Klockgether T, Schöls L, Synofzik M. Digital Gait Biomarkers Allow to Capture 1-Year Longitudinal Change in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. Mov Disord 2022; 37:2295-2301. [PMID: 36043376 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Measures of step variability and body sway during gait have shown to correlate with clinical ataxia severity in several cross-sectional studies. However, to serve as a valid progression biomarker, these gait measures have to prove their sensitivity to robustly capture longitudinal change, ideally within short time frames (eg, 1 year). We present the first multicenter longitudinal gait analysis study in spinocerebellar ataxias. We performed a combined cross-sectional (n = 28) and longitudinal (1-year interval, n = 17) analysis in Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 3 subjects (including seven preataxic mutation carriers). Longitudinal analysis showed significant change in gait measures between baseline and 1-year follow-up, with high effect sizes (stride length variability: P = 0.01, effect size rprb = 0.66; lateral sway: P = 0.007, rprb = 0.73). Sample size estimation for lateral sway indicates a required cohort size of n = 43 for detecting a 50% reduction of natural progression, compared with n = 240 for the clinical ataxia score Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). These measures thus present promising motor biomarkers for upcoming interventional studies. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winfried Ilg
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Björn Müller
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Faber
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Judith van Gaalen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Holger Hengel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Centre of Neurology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ina R Vogt
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Guido Hennes
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Bart van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas Klockgether
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Ludger Schöls
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Centre of Neurology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Centre of Neurology, Tübingen, Germany
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16
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Rodriguez-Labrada R, Ortega-Sanchez R, Hernández Casaña P, Santos Morales O, Padrón-Estupiñan MDC, Batista-Nuñez M, Jiménez Rodríguez D, Canales-Ochoa N, Peña Acosta A, Medrano Montero J, Labrada Aguilera PE, Estupiñán Rodriguez A, Vazquez-Mojena Y, Almaguer Gotay D, Aymed-García J, García-García I, Torres Vega R, Viada González C, Valenzuela Silva CM, Silva Ricardo Y, Columbié Ximelis J, Tribin Rivero K, Valle Cabrera R, García-Rodriguez JC, Crombet Ramos T, Amaro-González D, Rodriguez-Obaya T, Velázquez-Pérez L. Erythropoietin in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2: Feasibility and Proof-of-Principle Issues from a Randomized Controlled Study. Mov Disord 2022; 37:1516-1525. [PMID: 35607776 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several pieces of evidence have shown the neurotrophic effect of erythropoietin (EPO) and its introduction in the therapeutic practice of neurological diseases. However, its usefulness in the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) has not been proven despite the fact that it is endogenously reduced in these patients. OBJECTIVE The study aims to investigate the safety, tolerability, and clinical effects of a nasally administered recombinant EPO in SCA2 patients. METHODS Thirty-four patients were enrolled in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase I-II clinical trial of the nasally administered human-recombinant EPO (NeuroEPO) for 6 months. The primary outcome was the change in the spinocerebellar ataxia functional index (SCAFI), while other motor, neuropsychological, and oculomotor measures were assessed. RESULTS The 6-month changes in SCAFI score were slightly higher in the patients allocated to NeuroEPO treatment than placebo in spite of the important placebo effect observed for this parameter. However, saccade latency was significantly decreased in the NeuroEPO group but not in placebo. The frequency and severity of adverse events were similar between both groups, without evidences of hematopoietic activity of the drug. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated the safety and tolerability of NeuroEPO in SCA2 patients after 6 months of treatments and suggested a small clinical effect of this drug on motor and cognitive abnormalities, but confirmatory studies are warranted. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Rodriguez-Labrada
- Center for Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias (CIRAH), Holguín, Cuba.,Cuban Centre for Neurosciences, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | | | | | - Maricela Batista-Nuñez
- Otorhinolaryngology Department, "Octavio de la Concepción" Pediatric Hospital, Holguín, Cuba
| | | | - Nalia Canales-Ochoa
- Center for Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias (CIRAH), Holguín, Cuba
| | - Arnoy Peña Acosta
- Center for Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias (CIRAH), Holguín, Cuba
| | | | | | | | - Yaimee Vazquez-Mojena
- Center for Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias (CIRAH), Holguín, Cuba.,Cuban Centre for Neurosciences, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | | | - Reydenis Torres Vega
- Center for Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias (CIRAH), Holguín, Cuba
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Luis Velázquez-Pérez
- Center for Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias (CIRAH), Holguín, Cuba.,Cuban Academy of Sciences, Havana, Cuba
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17
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Cabaraux P, Agrawal SK, Cai H, Calabro RS, Casali C, Damm L, Doss S, Habas C, Horn AKE, Ilg W, Louis ED, Mitoma H, Monaco V, Petracca M, Ranavolo A, Rao AK, Ruggieri S, Schirinzi T, Serrao M, Summa S, Strupp M, Surgent O, Synofzik M, Tao S, Terasi H, Torres-Russotto D, Travers B, Roper JA, Manto M. Consensus Paper: Ataxic Gait. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 22:394-430. [PMID: 35414041 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01373-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this consensus paper is to discuss the roles of the cerebellum in human gait, as well as its assessment and therapy. Cerebellar vermis is critical for postural control. The cerebellum ensures the mapping of sensory information into temporally relevant motor commands. Mental imagery of gait involves intrinsically connected fronto-parietal networks comprising the cerebellum. Muscular activities in cerebellar patients show impaired timing of discharges, affecting the patterning of the synergies subserving locomotion. Ataxia of stance/gait is amongst the first cerebellar deficits in cerebellar disorders such as degenerative ataxias and is a disabling symptom with a high risk of falls. Prolonged discharges and increased muscle coactivation may be related to compensatory mechanisms and enhanced body sway, respectively. Essential tremor is frequently associated with mild gait ataxia. There is growing evidence for an important role of the cerebellar cortex in the pathogenesis of essential tremor. In multiple sclerosis, balance and gait are affected due to cerebellar and spinal cord involvement, as a result of disseminated demyelination and neurodegeneration impairing proprioception. In orthostatic tremor, patients often show mild-to-moderate limb and gait ataxia. The tremor generator is likely located in the posterior fossa. Tandem gait is impaired in the early stages of cerebellar disorders and may be particularly useful in the evaluation of pre-ataxic stages of progressive ataxias. Impaired inter-joint coordination and enhanced variability of gait temporal and kinetic parameters can be grasped by wearable devices such as accelerometers. Kinect is a promising low cost technology to obtain reliable measurements and remote assessments of gait. Deep learning methods are being developed in order to help clinicians in the diagnosis and decision-making process. Locomotor adaptation is impaired in cerebellar patients. Coordinative training aims to improve the coordinative strategy and foot placements across strides, cerebellar patients benefiting from intense rehabilitation therapies. Robotic training is a promising approach to complement conventional rehabilitation and neuromodulation of the cerebellum. Wearable dynamic orthoses represent a potential aid to assist gait. The panel of experts agree that the understanding of the cerebellar contribution to gait control will lead to a better management of cerebellar ataxias in general and will likely contribute to use gait parameters as robust biomarkers of future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Cabaraux
- Unité Des Ataxies Cérébelleuses, Department of Neurology, CHU de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium.
| | | | - Huaying Cai
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | | | - Carlo Casali
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Latina, Italy
| | - Loic Damm
- EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Univ Montpellier, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier, France
| | - Sarah Doss
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA
| | - Christophe Habas
- Université Versailles Saint-Quentin, Versailles, France.,Service de NeuroImagerie, Centre Hospitalier National des 15-20, Paris, France
| | - Anja K E Horn
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology I, Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Winfried Ilg
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Elan D Louis
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hiroshi Mitoma
- Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Vito Monaco
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Petracca
- Department of Human Neurosciences, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Ranavolo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - Ashwini K Rao
- Department of Rehabilitation & Regenerative Medicine (Programs in Physical Therapy), Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Serena Ruggieri
- Department of Human Neurosciences, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy.,Neuroimmunology Unit, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Tommaso Schirinzi
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Latina, Italy.,Movement Analysis LAB, Policlinico Italia, Rome, Italy
| | - Susanna Summa
- MARlab, Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital - IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Michael Strupp
- Department of Neurology and German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Hospital of the Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Olivia Surgent
- Neuroscience Training Program and Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Centre of Neurology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Shuai Tao
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Smart Medical and Health, Dalian University, Dalian, 116622, China
| | - Hiroo Terasi
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Diego Torres-Russotto
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA
| | - Brittany Travers
- Department of Kinesiology and Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jaimie A Roper
- School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Mario Manto
- Unité Des Ataxies Cérébelleuses, Department of Neurology, CHU de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium.,Service Des Neurosciences, University of Mons, UMons, Mons, Belgium
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18
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Mitoma H, Yamaguchi K, Honnorat J, Manto M. The Clinical Concept of LTDpathy: Is Dysregulated LTD Responsible for Prodromal Cerebellar Symptoms? Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12030303. [PMID: 35326260 PMCID: PMC8946597 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12030303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term depression at parallel fibers-Purkinje cells (PF-PC LTD) is essential for cerebellar motor learning and motor control. Recent progress in ataxiology has identified dysregulation of PF-PC LTD in the pathophysiology of certain types of immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias (IMCAs). Auto-antibodies towards voltage-gated Ca channel (VGCC), metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1 (mGluR1), and glutamate receptor delta (GluR delta) induce dysfunction of PF-PC LTD, resulting in the development of cerebellar ataxias (CAs). These disorders show a good response to immunotherapies in non-paraneoplastic conditions but are sometimes followed by cell death in paraneoplastic conditions. On the other hand, in some types of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), dysfunction in PF-PC LTD, and impairments of PF-PC LTD-related adaptive behaviors (including vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and prism adaptation) appear during the prodromal stage, well before the manifestations of obvious CAs and cerebellar atrophy. Based on these findings and taking into account the findings of animal studies, we re-assessed the clinical concept of LTDpathy. LTDpathy can be defined as a clinical spectrum comprising etiologies associated with a functional disturbance of PF-PC LTD with concomitant impairment of related adaptative behaviors, including VOR, blink reflex, and prism adaptation. In IMCAs or degenerative CAs characterized by persistent impairment of a wide range of molecular mechanisms, these disorders are initially functional and are followed subsequently by degenerative cell processes. In such cases, adaptive disorders associated with PF-PC LTD manifest clinically with subtle symptoms and can be prodromal. Our hypothesis underlines for the first time a potential role of LTD dysfunction in the pathogenesis of the prodromal symptoms of CAs. This hypothesis opens perspectives to block the course of CAs at a very early stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Mitoma
- Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
- Correspondence: Japan;
| | - Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
- Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo 187-8511, Japan;
| | - Jerome Honnorat
- French Reference Center on Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Neurologique, 69677 Bron, France;
- Institut MeLis INSERM U1314/CNRS UMR 5284, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69372 Lyon, France
| | - Mario Manto
- Unité des Ataxies Cérébelleuses, Service de Neurologie, Médiathèque Jean Jacquy, CHU-Charleroi, 6000 Charleroi, Belgium;
- Service des Neurosciences, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
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19
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Thierfelder A, Seemann J, John N, Harmuth F, Giese M, Schüle R, Schöls L, Timmann D, Synofzik M, Ilg W. Real-Life Turning Movements Capture Subtle Longitudinal and Preataxic Changes in Cerebellar Ataxia. Mov Disord 2022; 37:1047-1058. [PMID: 35067979 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical and regulatory acceptance of upcoming molecular treatments in degenerative ataxias might greatly benefit from ecologically valid endpoints that capture change in ataxia severity in patients' real life. OBJECTIVES This longitudinal study aimed to unravel quantitative motor biomarkers in degenerative ataxias in real-life turning movements that are sensitive for changes both longitudinally and at the preataxic stage. METHODS Combined cross-sectional (n = 30) and longitudinal (n = 14, 1-year interval) observational study in degenerative cerebellar disease (including eight preataxic mutation carriers) compared to 23 healthy controls. Turning movements were assessed by three body-worn inertial sensors in three conditions: (1) instructed laboratory assessment, (2) supervised free walking, and (3) unsupervised real-life movements. RESULTS Measures that quantified dynamic balance during turning-lateral velocity change (LVC) and outward acceleration-but not general turning measures such as speed, allowed differentiating ataxic against healthy subjects in real life (effect size δ = 0.68), with LVC also differentiating preataxic against healthy subjects (δ = 0.53). LVC was highly correlated with clinical ataxia severity (scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia [SARA] score, effect size ρ = 0.79) and patient reported balance confidence (activity-specific balance confidence scale [ABC] score, ρ = 0.66). Moreover, LVC in real life-but not general turning measures or the SARA score-allowed detecting significant longitudinal change in 1-year follow-up with high effect size (rprb = 0.66). CONCLUSIONS Measures of turning allow capturing specific changes of dynamic balance in degenerative ataxia in real life, with high sensitivity to longitudinal differences in ataxia severity and to the preataxic stage. They thus present promising ecologically valid motor biomarkers, even in the highly treatment-relevant early stages of degenerative cerebellar disease. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Thierfelder
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.,Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Otfried-Müller-Straße 25, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Jens Seemann
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.,Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Otfried-Müller-Straße 25, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Natalie John
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.,Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Centre of Neurology, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Florian Harmuth
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Tübingen, Calwerstr. 7, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Martin Giese
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.,Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Otfried-Müller-Straße 25, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Rebecca Schüle
- Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Centre of Neurology, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.,German Research Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otfried-Müller-Straße 23, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Ludger Schöls
- Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Centre of Neurology, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.,German Research Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otfried-Müller-Straße 23, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, Essen, 45147, Germany
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Centre of Neurology, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.,German Research Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otfried-Müller-Straße 23, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Winfried Ilg
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.,Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Otfried-Müller-Straße 25, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
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20
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Lee J, Oubre B, Daneault JF, Stephen CD, Schmahmann JD, Gupta AS, Lee SI. Analysis of Gait Sub-Movements to Estimate Ataxia Severity using Ankle Inertial Data. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2022; 69:2314-2323. [PMID: 35025733 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2022.3142504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Assessment of motor severity in cerebellar ataxia is critical for monitoring disease progression and evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. Though wearable sensors have been used to monitor gait tasks in order to enable frequent assessment, existing solutions only estimate gait performance severity rather than comprehensive motor severity. In this study, we propose a new approach that analyzes sub-second movement profiles of the lower-limbs during gait to estimate overall motor severity in cerebellar ataxia. Methods: A total of 37 ataxia subjects and 12 healthy subjects performed a 5 m walk-and-turn task with two ankle-worn inertial sensors. Lower-limb movements were decomposed into one-dimensional sub-movements, namely movement elements. Supervised regression models trained on data features of movement elements estimated the Brief Ataxia Rating Scale (BARS) and its sub-scores evaluated by clinicians. The proposed models were also compared to models trained on widely-accepted spatiotemporal gait features. Results: Estimated total BARS showed strong agreement with clinician-evaluated scores with r2 = 0.72 and a root mean square error of 2.6 BARS points. Movement element-based models significantly outperformed conventional, spatiotemporal gait feature-based models. Conclusion: The proposed algorithm accurately assessed overall motor severity in cerebellar ataxia using inertial data collected from bilaterally-placed ankle sensors during a simple walk-and-turn task. Significance: Our work could support fine-grained monitoring of disease progression and patients' responses to medical/clinical interventions.
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21
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Identification of the Prodromal Symptoms and Pre-Ataxic Stage in Cerebellar Disorders: The Next Challenge. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph181910057. [PMID: 34639359 PMCID: PMC8507858 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Cerebellar ataxias (CAs) manifest with a combination of motor incoordination, cognitive, affective and recently identified social symptoms. Novel therapies aim to stop the progression of the subgroup of the degenerative ataxias, or even to cure the disease with a functional and anatomical restoration of the cerebellar circuitry in the near future. The goal of stopping the progression of the disease is particularly relevant if applied at a very early stage of the disease, when the cerebellar reserve is only slightly impaired. Therefore, the search of the prodromal phase or pre-ataxic stage of CAs represents a very important challenge for the scientific community. The identification of pre-manifest individuals and the recruitment of individuals at risk has become a key-challenge to address neuroprotective therapies. The feasibility is high due to the recent progress in the biological and morphological biomarkers of CAs.
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22
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Shah VV, Rodriguez-Labrada R, Horak FB, McNames J, Casey H, Hansson Floyd K, El-Gohary M, Schmahmann JD, Rosenthal LS, Perlman S, Velázquez-Pérez L, Gomez CM. Gait Variability in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Assessed Using Wearable Inertial Sensors. Mov Disord 2021; 36:2922-2931. [PMID: 34424581 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quantitative assessment of severity of ataxia-specific gait impairments from wearable technology could provide sensitive performance outcome measures with high face validity to power clinical trials. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to identify a set of gait measures from body-worn inertial sensors that best discriminate between people with prodromal or manifest spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and age-matched, healthy control subjects (HC) and determine how these measures relate to disease severity. METHODS One hundred and sixty-three people with SCA (subtypes 1, 2, 3, and 6), 42 people with prodromal SCA, and 96 HC wore 6 inertial sensors while performing a natural pace, 2-minute walk. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) were compared for 25 gait measures, including standard deviations as variability, to discriminate between ataxic and normal gait. Pearson's correlation coefficient assessed the relationships between the gait measures and severity of ataxia. RESULTS Increased gait variability was the most discriminative gait feature of SCA; toe-out angle variability (AUC = 0.936; sensitivity = 0.871; specificity = 0.896) and double-support time variability (AUC = 0.932; sensitivity = 0.834; specificity = 0.865) were the most sensitive and specific measures. These variability measures were also significantly correlated with the scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) and disease duration. The same gait measures discriminated gait of people with prodromal SCA from the gait of HC (AUC = 0.610, and 0.670, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Wearable inertial sensors provide sensitive and specific measures of excessive gait variability in both manifest and prodromal SCAs that are reliable and related to the severity of the disease, suggesting they may be useful as clinical trial performance outcome measures. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vrutangkumar V Shah
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Roberto Rodriguez-Labrada
- Centre for the Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias, Holguín, Cuba.,Cuban Center for Neuroscience, Havana, Cuba
| | - Fay B Horak
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.,APDM Wearable Technologies, an ERT company, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - James McNames
- APDM Wearable Technologies, an ERT company, Portland, Oregon, USA.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Hannah Casey
- The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | | | - Jeremy D Schmahmann
- Department of Neurology, Ataxia Center, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Liana S Rosenthal
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Susan Perlman
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Luis Velázquez-Pérez
- Centre for the Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias, Holguín, Cuba.,Cuban Academy of Sciences, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Christopher M Gomez
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.,The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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23
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Mueller A, Paterson E, McIntosh A, Praestgaard J, Bylo M, Hoefling H, Wells M, Lynch DR, Rummey C, Krishnan ML, Schultz M, Malanga CJ. Digital endpoints for self-administered home-based functional assessment in pediatric Friedreich's ataxia. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2021; 8:1845-1856. [PMID: 34355532 PMCID: PMC8419399 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Friedreich’s ataxia is an inherited, progressive, neurodegenerative disease that typically begins in childhood. Disease severity is commonly assessed with rating scales, such as the modified Friedreich’s Ataxia Rating Scale, which are usually administered in the clinic by a neurology specialist. Objective This study evaluated the utility of home‐based, self‐administered digital endpoints in children with Friedreich’s ataxia and unaffected controls and their relationship to standard clinical rating scales. Methods In a cross‐sectional study with 25 participants (13 with Friedreich’s ataxia and 12 unaffected controls, aged 6–15 years), home‐based digital endpoints that reflect activities of daily living were recorded over 1 week. Domains analyzed were hand motor function with a digitized drawing, automated analysis of speech with a recorded oral diadochokinesis test, and gait and balance with wearable sensors. Results Hand‐drawing and speech tests were easy to conduct and generated high‐quality data. The sensor‐based gait and balance tests suffered from technical limitations in this study setup. Several parameters discriminated between groups or correlated strongly with modified Friedreich’s Ataxia Rating Scale total score and activities of daily living total score in the Friedreich’s ataxia group. Hand‐drawing parameters also strongly correlated with standard 9‐hole peg test scores. Interpretation Deploying digital endpoints in home settings is feasible in this population, results in meaningful and robust data collection, and may allow for frequent sampling over longer periods of time to track disease progression. Care must be taken when training participants, and investigators should consider the complexity of the tasks and equipment used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Mueller
- Translational Medicine, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Elaine Paterson
- Translational Medicine, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Mary Bylo
- Translational Medicine, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Holger Hoefling
- NIBR Informatics, Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - McKenzie Wells
- Division of Neurology, Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David R Lynch
- Division of Neurology, Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Michelle L Krishnan
- Translational Medicine, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Meredith Schultz
- Translational Medicine, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - C J Malanga
- Translational Medicine, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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24
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To provide an update on the role of Ataxin-2 gene (ATXN2) in health and neurological diseases. RECENT FINDINGS There is a growing complexity emerging on the role of ATXN2 and its variants in association with SCA2 and several other neurological diseases. Polymorphisms and intermediate alleles in ATXN2 establish this gene as a powerful modulator of neurological diseases including lethal neurodegenerative conditions such as motor neuron disease, spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3), and peripheral nerve disease such as familial amyloidosis polyneuropathy. This role is in fact far wider than the previously described for polymorphism in the prion protein (PRNP) gene. Positive data from antisense oligo therapy in a murine model of SCA2 suggest that similar approaches may be feasible in humans SCA2 patients. SUMMARY ATXN2 is one of the few genes where a single gene causes several diseases and/or modifies several and disparate neurological disorders. Hence, understanding mutagenesis, genetic variants, and biological functions will help managing SCA2, and several human diseases connected with dysfunctional pathways in the brain, innate immunity, autophagy, cellular, lipid, and RNA metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Miguel Laffita-Mesa
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), J5:20 Bioclinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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25
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Baker N, Gough C, Gordon SJ. Inertial Sensor Reliability and Validity for Static and Dynamic Balance in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 21:5167. [PMID: 34372404 PMCID: PMC8348903 DOI: 10.3390/s21155167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Compared to laboratory equipment inertial sensors are inexpensive and portable, permitting the measurement of postural sway and balance to be conducted in any setting. This systematic review investigated the inter-sensor and test-retest reliability, and concurrent and discriminant validity to measure static and dynamic balance in healthy adults. Medline, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched to January 2021. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was possible for reliability studies only and it was found that inertial sensors are reliable to measure static standing eyes open. A synthesis of the included studies shows moderate to good reliability for dynamic balance. Concurrent validity is moderate for both static and dynamic balance. Sensors discriminate old from young adults by amplitude of mediolateral sway, gait velocity, step length, and turn speed. Fallers are discriminated from non-fallers by sensor measures during walking, stepping, and sit to stand. The accuracy of discrimination is unable to be determined conclusively. Using inertial sensors to measure postural sway in healthy adults provides real-time data collected in the natural environment and enables discrimination between fallers and non-fallers. The ability of inertial sensors to identify differences in postural sway components related to altered performance in clinical tests can inform targeted interventions for the prevention of falls and near falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Baker
- Flinders Digital Health Research Centre, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia; (C.G.); (S.J.G.)
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