Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a beneficial replacement treatment for Spinocerebellar Ataxia 38 (SCA38)

Abstract

Objective: Spinocerebellar Ataxia 38 (SCA38) is caused by mutations in the ELOVL5 gene, which encodes an elongase involved in the synthesis of polyunsatured fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). As a consequence, DHA is significantly reduced in the serum of SCA38 subjects.

In the present study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of DHA supplementation on clinical symptoms and changes of brain functional imaging in SCA38 patients.

Methods: We enrolled ten SCA38 patients, and we carried out a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study for 16 weeks, followed by an open-label study with overall 40-week DHA treatment. At baseline, and at follow-up visit, patients underwent standardised clinical assessment, brain 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET), electroneurography (ENG), and ELOVL5 expression analysis.

Results: After 16 weeks, we showed a significant pre-post clinical improvement in the DHA group vs. placebo (mean difference, MD), using the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) (MD=+2.70, 95%CI: +0.13 to +5.27, p=0.042). At 40-week treatment, clinical improvement was found significant both in SARA (MD=+2.2, 95%CI: +0.93 to +3.46, p=0.008) and International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) (MD= +3.8, 95%CI: +1.39 to +6.41, p=0.02) scores; clinical data were corroborated by significant improvement of cerebellar hypometabolism (statistical parametric mapping analyses, False Discovery Rate corrected). We also showed a decreased expression of ELOVL5 in patients' blood at 40 weeks as compared to baseline. No side effect was recorded.

Interpretation: DHA supplementation is a safe and effective treatment for SCA38, showing an improvement of clinical symptoms and cerebellar hypometabolism. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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