Photo Credit: microgen

The following is a summary of “Patient-Relevant Digital-Motor Outcomes for Clinical Trials in Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia Type 7: A Multicenter PROSPAX Study,” published in the December 2024 issue of Neurology by Beichert et al.   

Spastic ataxias, including hereditary spastic paraplegia type 7 (SPG7), lack validated, sensitive digital-motor outcomes for clinical trials.  

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to identify digital-motor outcomes for individuals with SPG7.  

They analyzed gait in 65 individuals with SPG7 and 50 HCs using 3 wearable sensors (Opal APDM) in laboratory-based and supervised free walking conditions, 30 gait measures were assessed for effect size and correlation with disease severity (SPR Scale [SPRS], mobility subscore [SPRS^mobility], Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia [SARA], and the Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale [FARS-ADL]).  

The results showed 18 of 30 gait measures demonstrated moderate effect size (δ > 0.5) in discriminating individuals with SPG7 from HCs, with 17 also showing significance in mild disease stages (SPRS^mobility ≤ 9, n = 41). Measures of spatiotemporal variability, such as spatial variability (SPcmp: ρ = 0.67, P<0.0001) and stride time coefficient of variation (CV: ρ = 0.67, P<0.0001), correlated with functional mobility (SPRS^mobility), overall disease severity (SPRS, SARA), and daily activities (FARS-ADL), and confirmed in mild disease stages (SPcmp: ρ = 0.50, P<0.0001) and supervised free walking (stride time CV: ρ = −0.57, P<0.0001).  

They concluded that the digital-motor measures identified could inform future trials for individuals with SPG7 and other spastic ataxias.  

Source: neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000209887