The role of buspirone for the treatment of cerebellar ataxia in an older individual.
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.
Holroyd-Leduc
Jayna M
JM
Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Science Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. jayna.Holroyd-Leduc@uhn.on.ca
Liu
Barbara A
BA
Maki
Brian E
BE
Zecevic
Aleksandra
A
Herrmann
Nathan
N
Black
Sandra E
SE
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002065:Buspirone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005684:Gait / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D002065:Buspirone