Herbal Therapy for spinocerebellar ataxia

Spinocerebellar ataxia 6 (SCA6) is an autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia associated with small polyglutamine-dependent expansions in the alpha 1A-voltage calcium channel. At present, we have no effective therapeutic tools. We report here six cases of spinocerebellar ataxia 6（SCA6）with typical symptoms. Genetic tests revealed expanded allele of 22~25 CAG repeats at the spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 locus. Head MRI revealed a typical atrophic image in cerebellum. For the systems therapy with medicinal herbs, the differential diagnosis by traditional herbal medicine was made according to the guideline. Mixtures of 18~26 medicinal herbs were given according to the differential diagnosis in each patient. The remedies used for the cases consist of several different ingredients, which have well-established histories of use for treatment of vertigo, tremor, or ataxia and are expected to exert their specific effects. In 17 of 21 patients, ataxia of gait and stance was significantly improved in 30~ 60 days of the herbal treatment. 34~85% reductuion were obtained on the 100-point semiquantitative International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scales (ICARS) scores. The results imply the therapeutic potential of herbal medicine for spinocerebellar ataxia 6. Further extensive investigations are required to clarify the mechanisms by which the remission induction of this genetic disease of CAG repeat expansion mutation has been attained with the medicinal herbs.