Conditions: Spinocerebellar Ataxias Type 1 Spinocerebellar Ataxias Type 2 Spinocerebellar Ataxias Type 3 Spinocerebellar Ataxias Type 6
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 20
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
Investigators expect there will be improvement in walking speed and steadiness after taking Dalfampridine, thereby improving activities of daily living and enhancing social and occupational functions for patients with spinocerebellar ataxia.

Detailed description:
Twenty spinocerebellar ataxia patients will be randomized to receive either Dalfampridine or placebo over a total period of 10 weeks. After entering the study, patients will return every 2 weeks for evaluation. After four weeks, intervention will be stopped and patient will enter a 2-week wash out period where they do not take any drug. Then, patients will be given the opposite treatment (Dalfampridine or placebo) and this "crossover" study will be performed for another 4 weeks. Investigators expect there will be improvement in walking speed and steadiness after taking Dalfampridine, thereby improving activities of daily living and enhancing social and occupational functions.

Arms:
arm 1: Participant first receive Dalfampridine at an oral dose of 10mg every 12 hours, for 4 weeks. After a washout period of 2 weeks, they then receive Placebo tablet orally every 12 hours, for a 4 weeks period. arm 2: Participant first receive Placebo tablet orally every 12 hours, for a 4 weeks period. After a washout period of 2 weeks, they then receive Dalfampridine at an oral dose of 10mg every 12 hours, for 4 weeks.

Interventions: intervention 1: Dalfampridine intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Dalfampridine will be provided at an oral dose of 10mg every 12 hours, for 4 weeks period intervention 2: Placebo will be administered orally every 12 hours, for a 4 week period.

Protocol document: