Emerging therapies in Friedreich's ataxia.

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an inherited, progressive neurodegenerative disease that typically affects teenagers and young adults. Therapeutic strategies and disease insight have expanded rapidly over recent years, leading to hope for the FRDA population. There is currently no US FDA-approved treatment for FRDA, but advances in research of its pathogenesis have led to clinical trials of potential treatments. This article reviews emerging therapies and discusses future perspectives, including the need for more precise measures for detecting changes in neurologic symptoms as well as a disease-modifying agent.

Critical appraisal of rotigotine transdermal system in management of Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome - patient considerations.

Rotigotine (RTG) is a dopamine agonist that is used as mono and adjunct therapy to treat Parkinson's disease, and as therapy for moderate-to-severe restless legs syndrome. RTG is the only dopamine agonist currently available as a 24-hour/day transdermal system, providing once-a-day dosing. As a transdermal patch, RTG bypasses the gastrointestinal tract, making it a treatment option for patients with dysphagia. The use of RTG also avoids the need to schedule administration of medication around meals. This review provides a critical appraisal of RTG as treatment of Parkinson's disease and RLS.

Treatment of cerebellar ataxia.

Symptoms of cerebellar degeneration include ataxia or wide-based gait, visual and speech dysfunction, dysmetria, and dyscoordination. The etiology of cerebellar degeneration is vast and often complex, and requires neuroimaging, lab assessments, and a thorough family history to delineate its cause. There is currently no accepted treatment of hereditary cerebellar degeneration, although several pharmaceutical agents have shown potential promise.