The impact of ethnicity on the clinical presentations of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3

Shi Rui Gan, Karla P. Figueroa, Hao Ling Xu, Susan Perlman, George Wilmot, Christopher M. Gomez, Jeremy Schmahmann, Henry Paulson, Vikram G. Shakkottai, Sarah H. Ying, Theresa Zesiewicz, Khalaf Bushara, Michael D. Geschwind, Guangbin Xia, S. H. Subramony, Liana Rosenthal, Tetsuo Ashizawa, Stefan M. Pulst, Ning Wang, Sheng Han Kuo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: For a variety of sporadic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, it is well-established that ethnicity does affect the disease phenotypes. However, how ethnicity contributes to the clinical symptoms and disease progressions in monogenetic disorders, such as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), remains less studied. Methods: We used multivariable linear and logistical regression models in 257 molecularly-confirmed SCA3 patients (66 Caucasians, 43 African Americans, and 148 Asians [composed of 131 Chinese and 17 Asian Americans]) to explore the influence of ethnicity on age at onset (AAO), ataxia severity, and non-ataxia symptoms (i.e. depression, tremor, and dystonia). Results: We found that Asians had significantly later AAO, compared to Caucasians (β = 4.75, p = 0.000) and to African Americans (β = 6.64, p = 0.000) after adjusting for the pathological CAG repeat numbers in ATXN3. African Americans exhibited the most severe ataxia as compared to Caucasians (β = 3.81, p = 0.004) and Asians (β = 4.39, p = 0.001) after taking into consideration of the pathological CAG repeat numbers in ATXN3 and disease duration. Caucasians had a higher prevalence of depression than African Americans (β = 1.23, p = 0.040). Ethnicity had no influence on tremor or dystonia. Conclusions: Ethnicity plays an important role in clinical presentations of SCA3 patients, which could merit further clinical studies and public health consideration. These results highlight the role of ethnicity in monogenetic, neurodegenerative disorders.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)37-43
Number of pages7
JournalParkinsonism and Related Disorders
Volume72
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cerebellum
  • Depression
  • Ethnicity
  • Neurodegeneration
  • Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Clinical Neurology

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