Orsucci D, Lorenzetti L, Baldinotti F, Rossi A, Vitolo E, Gheri FL, Napolitano A, Tintori G, Vista M. Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS): A Gender Perspective.
J Clin Med 2022;
11:jcm11041002. [PMID:
35207276 PMCID:
PMC8876035 DOI:
10.3390/jcm11041002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Although larger trinucleotide expansions give rise to a neurodevelopmental disorder called fragile X syndrome, fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by a “premutation” (55–200 CGG repeats) in the FMR1 gene. FXTAS is one of the more common single-gene forms of late-onset ataxia and tremor that may have a more complex development in women, with atypical presentations. After a brief presentation of the atypical case of an Italian woman with FXTAS, who had several paroxysmal episodes suggestive of acute cerebellar and/or brainstem dysfunction, this article will revise the phenotype of FXTAS in women. Especially in females, FXTAS has a broad spectrum of symptoms, ranging from relatively severe diseases in mid-adulthood to mild cases beginning in later life. Female FXTAS and male FXTAS have a different symptomatic spectrum, and studies on the fragile X premutation should be conducted separately on women or men. Hopefully, a better understanding of the molecular processes involved in the polymorphic features of FXTAS will lead to more specific and effective therapies for this complex disorder.
Collapse