The role of buspirone for the treatment of cerebellar ataxia in an older individual.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Buspirone, a 5HT-agonist and D2-dopamine antagonist/agonist, has modest beneficial effects in younger individuals with cerebellar ataxia. However, it is unclear whether it is beneficial and tolerable in older ataxic individuals.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine if an older individual with cerebellar ataxia would benefit from and tolerate buspirone.

METHODS:

We performed a single-subject, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized-phase study. The 80 year-old subject was to undergo six 4-week testing periods, divided randomly into three treatment and three placebo arms with a 2-week washout period between each arm. Treatment consisted of buspirone hydrochloride. Outcomes were clinical gait and balance testing, posturography testing, and subjective measurement of balance confidence.

RESULTS:

There were no statistically significant objective improvements with buspirone. The subject experienced a subjective improvement in balance confidence and tolerated treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

Single-subject studies can help when it is unclear whether drug trial results with young subjects are generalizable to an older subject. This single-subject study determined that buspirone was tolerable but not clearly beneficial for an ataxic older individual.

• Authors: Jayna M Holroyd-Leduc, Barbara A Liu, Brian E Maki, Aleksandra Zecevic, Nathan Herrmann, Sandra E Black
• Journal: The Canadian journal of clinical pharmacology = Journal canadien de pharmacologie clinique (Can J Clin Pharmacol) Vol. 12 Issue 3 Pg. e218-21 ( 2005) ISSN: 1710-6222 [Electronic] Canada
• PMID: 16278493 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Serotonin Receptor Agonists
• Buspirone

Topics

• Aged, 80 and over
• Buspirone (therapeutic use)
• Cerebellar Ataxia (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Double-Blind Method
• Gait (drug effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Postural Balance (drug effects)
• Serotonin Receptor Agonists (therapeutic use)