RISCA : Prospective Study of Individuals at Risk for SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA7 (RISCA)

Prospective Study of Individuals at Risk for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, Type 6 and Type 7 (SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA7)

The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of autosomal dominantly inherited progressive ataxia disorders. It is estimated that there are 30,000 individuals in the European Community that directly descend from individuals affected by a SCA disorder and thus carry a 50% risk of having inherited an SCA mutation. These at risk individuals provide a unique research opportunity to prospectively study the presymptomatic phase of SCA disorders and to identify the earliest and most sensitive clinical signs and biological markers that herald the onset of the illness. This information is of critical importance for the development of future therapeutic interventions aimed at postponing the clinical onset of ataxia.

We therefore propose to perform a prospective observational study of individuals at risk for the most common SCA disorders, SCA1, SCA2, SCA3 and SCA6 (RISCA). It is our aim to answer the following questions: (1) What is the incidence of disease manifestation in mutation carriers? (2) Which clinical signs precede the onset of manifest ataxia in SCA1, SCA2, SCA3 and SCA6? (3) What are the prevalence and incidence of preceding signs? (4) Are the prevalence and incidence of preceding signs affected by genotype, gender, age, estimated time until disease manifestation and repeat length? (5) Does the presence of certain preceding signs predict the manifestation of ataxia ? (6) Are there MRI alterations that precede the onset of ataxia? It is planned to enroll 480 study participants and to follow them at regular intervals over six years. At each visit, study participants are asked in a structured interview for a number of predefined clinical signs that potentially precede the onset of ataxia. In addition, the following self-assessment scales will be applied: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Diagnostic Criteria for Restless Legs Syndrome, Patient´s Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). All study participants will undergo a physical examination including the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). Study participants will further perform the SCA Functional Composite (SCA-FC) which is a comprehensive measure of functional capacity based on results in quantitative tests related to gait (8m timed walk), speech (PATA rate) and hand function (9 hole pegboard). In a subset of study participants, we will record eye movements and obtain volumetric MRIs. The study will also be used to collect and store blood and urine samples for proteomic and gene expression studies.

RISCA is conducted by the Ataxia Study Group (ASG). It relies on the network structure created by the EUROSCA project.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Spinocerebellar Ataxias

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 37

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Paris, France, 75013
    • Pitié Salpétrière Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

French population

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• individuals at risk for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, type 2, type 3, type 6 and type 7 (SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6 and SCA7)
• age between 18 and 50 years old for SCA1, SCA2, SCA3 or SCA7
• age between 35 and 70 years old for SCA6
• no clinical sign of ataxia (SARA < 3)

Exclusion Criteria:

• no writing consent
• no family members affected
• presence of clinical sign of ataxia (SARA > 3)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Family-Based
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
presymptomatic carriers
non carrier relatives

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Wilke C, Mengel D, Schols L, Hengel H, Rakowicz M, Klockgether T, Durr A, Filla A, Melegh B, Schule R, Reetz K, Jacobi H, Synofzik M. Levels of Neurofilament Light at the Preataxic and Ataxic Stages of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1. Neurology. 2022 May 17;98(20):e1985-e1996. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000200257. Epub 2022 Mar 9.
• Jacobi H, du Montcel ST, Romanzetti S, Harmuth F, Mariotti C, Nanetti L, Rakowicz M, Makowicz G, Durr A, Monin ML, Filla A, Roca A, Schols L, Hengel H, Infante J, Kang JS, Timmann D, Casali C, Masciullo M, Baliko L, Melegh B, Nachbauer W, Burk-Gergs K, Schulz JB, Riess O, Reetz K, Klockgether T. Conversion of individuals at risk for spinocerebellar ataxia types 1, 2, 3, and 6 to manifest ataxia (RISCA): a longitudinal cohort study. Lancet Neurol. 2020 Sep;19(9):738-747. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30235-0.
• Tezenas du Montcel S, Durr A, Rakowicz M, Nanetti L, Charles P, Sulek A, Mariotti C, Rola R, Schols L, Bauer P, Dufaure-Gare I, Jacobi H, Forlani S, Schmitz-Hubsch T, Filla A, Timmann D, van de Warrenburg BP, Marelli C, Kang JS, Giunti P, Cook A, Baliko L, Melegh B, Boesch S, Szymanski S, Berciano J, Infante J, Buerk K, Masciullo M, Di Fabio R, Depondt C, Ratka S, Stevanin G, Klockgether T, Brice A, Golmard JL. Prediction of the age at onset in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, 2, 3 and 6. J Med Genet. 2014 Jul;51(7):479-86. doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2013-102200. Epub 2014 Apr 29. Erratum In: J Med Genet. 2014 Sep;51(9):613. Bela, Melegh [corrected to Melegh, Bela].
• Jacobi H, Reetz K, du Montcel ST, Bauer P, Mariotti C, Nanetti L, Rakowicz M, Sulek A, Durr A, Charles P, Filla A, Antenora A, Schols L, Schicks J, Infante J, Kang JS, Timmann D, Di Fabio R, Masciullo M, Baliko L, Melegh B, Boesch S, Burk K, Peltz A, Schulz JB, Dufaure-Gare I, Klockgether T. Biological and clinical characteristics of individuals at risk for spinocerebellar ataxia types 1, 2, 3, and 6 in the longitudinal RISCA study: analysis of baseline data. Lancet Neurol. 2013 Jul;12(7):650-8. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70104-2. Epub 2013 May 22. Erratum In: Lancet Neurol. 2013 Jul;12(7):630.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 7, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): December 14, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 21, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 22, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): December 23, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 30, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 27, 2021
• Last Verified: August 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: individuals at risk for SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6 and SCA7
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Dyskinesias; Spinal Cord Diseases; Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System; Cerebellar Diseases; Cerebellar Ataxia; Ataxia; Spinocerebellar Ataxias; Spinocerebellar Degenerations
• Other Study ID Numbers: C08-37