A Natural History Study to TRACK Brain and Spinal Cord Changes in Individuals with Friedreich Ataxia (TRACK-FA)
This is a natural history study prospectively investigating neuroimaging markers of disease progression in children and adults with Friedreich ataxia (FA). There will be three assessment periods (baseline, 12 and 24 months). The study will include approximately 200 individuals with FA and 100 matched controls recruited across the six international academic sites. Other assessments will include secondary clinical and cognitive markers, as well as exploratory blood markers.
• Age ≥ 5 years
• Written informed consent provided
• Individuals with FA must have a genetic confirmation of diagnosis and be biallelic for a GAA repeat length \> 55 in intron 1 of FXN and/or have a GAA repeat length \> 55 in intron 1 of FXN in one allele and another type of mutation that is inferred to cause loss of function in the second FXN allele
• Individuals with FA must have an age of disease onset ≤ 25 years
• Individuals with FA must have a disease duration ≤ 25 years
• Individuals with FA must have a Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale (FARS) Functional staging score of ≤ 5 and total modified FARS (mFARS) score of ≤ 65 on enrolment