Vascular Risk Factors and Clinical Progression in Spinocerebellar Ataxias

• Authors: Raymond Y. Yo, Tzu Chi University; Karla P. Figueroa, University of Utah; Stefan M. Pulst, University of Utah; Chi-Ying Lin, Columbia University; Susan Perlman, University of California Los Angeles; George Wilmot, Emory University; Christopher M. Gomez, University of Chicago; Jeremy Schmahmann, Harvard University; Henry Paulson, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Vikram G. Shakkottai, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Sarah H. Ying, Johns Hopkins University; Theresa Zesiewicz, University of South Florida; Khalaf Bushara, University of Minnesota; Michael Geschwind, University of California San Francisco; Guangbin Xia, University of Florida; S. H. Subramony, University of Florida; Tetsuo Ashizawa, University of Florida; Sheng-Han Kuo, Columbia University
• Journal Title: Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements
• Volume: Volume 5
• Publisher: Columbia University, Library/Information Service, Center for Digital Research and Scholarship: Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives | 2015-02-02
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.7916/D89885S0
• Subjects: Biology, Neuroscience
• Keywords: Hypertension; Hyperlipidemia; Vascular; Spinocerebellar ataxia; Neurodegeneration

Abstract

Background: The contributions of vascular risk factors to spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) are not known. Methods: We studied 319 participants with SCA 1, 2, 3, and 6 and repeatedly measured clinical severity using the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) for 2 years. Vascular risk factors were summarized by CHA2DS2-VASc scores as the vascular risk factor index. We employed regression models to study the effects of vascular risk factors on ataxia onset and progression after adjusting for age, sex, and pathological CAG repeats. Our secondary analyses took hyperlipidemia into account. Results: Nearly 60% of SCA participants were at low vascular risks with CHA2DS2-VASc = 0, and 31% scored 2 or greater. Higher CHA2DS2-VASc scores were not associated with either earlier onset or faster progression of ataxia. These findings were not altered after accounting for hyperlipidemia. Discussion: Vascular risks are not common in SCAs and are not associated with earlier onset or faster ataxia progression.