DeCure for Spastic paraplegia 79A, autosomal dominant, with ataxia
DeCure's autonomous Neuro AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for spastic paraplegia 79A, autosomal dominant, with ataxia — screening already-approved drugs against its 1-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleSpastic paraplegia 79A, autosomal dominant, with ataxia maps to a 1-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
No approved-drug candidate for spastic paraplegia 79a, autosomal dominant, with ataxia is corroborated in the literature DeepSearch retrieved. Some conditions are managed with non-pharmacological care — a device, surgery or physical therapy — rather than a medicine; that may be the case here, or the literature we found may simply be too sparse yet to support a drug-repurposing angle.
Molecular view
ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) — UCHL1 is one of the genes genetically linked to this disease in Open Targets — shown as context, not as a drug target we're pursuing: no approved-drug candidate for this disease is yet corroborated in the literature we found.
Loading structure…
helix sheet 4-chlorophenyldrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 8EDE · 1.799 Å · ligand 2-[(4-chlorophenyl)-methyl-amino]-~{N}'-ethanoyl-ethanehydrazide (WEU). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
SPG3A is the most frequent cause of hereditary spastic paraplegia with onset before age 10 years, found in seven families among 106 with autosomal dominant HSP. Two novel mutations (T162P, C375R) were identified. SPG3A was twice as frequent as SPG4 in patients with onset before age 10 years (31.8%). Later onset was not observed. The phenotype was pure HSP, but disease duration was longer than in non-SPG3A/SPG4 patients, leading ultimately to greater handicap.
SPG7 mutations are a major cause of unexplained ataxia presenting in mid-adult life. Late-onset ataxias are clinically and etiologically diverse, and patients rarely have defining clinical features. Many remain classified as idiopathic despite extensive investigation. The combined presence of ataxia and pyramidal features has a limited differential diagnosis that includes autosomal recessive ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay, late-onset Friedreich ataxia, and hereditary spastic paraplegia type 7.
In a 2019 cross-sectional study in Spain, 1933 patients were gathered from 11 autonomous communities. Mean age was 53.64 years; 938 were men and 995 women. The genetic defect was unidentified in 920 patients (47.6%). 1371 patients had ataxia and 562 had hereditary spastic paraplegia. Prevalence rates were 5.48 per 100,000 for ataxia and 2.24 per 100,000 for hereditary spastic paraplegia. The most frequent dominant ataxia was SCA3, the most frequent recessive ataxia was Friedreich ataxia, the most frequent dominant HSP was SPG4, and the most frequent recessive HSP was SPG7. These frequencies are similar to those reported elsewhere.
For spastic paraplegia 79A specifically, no clinical trial data, no treatment evidence, and no drug repurposing studies are reported in these abstracts. What is missing is any trial design for this specific mutation, any patient stratification by genotype, and any funding directed at SPG79A rather than the more common SPG3A, SPG4, or SPG7.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Neurology · 2006 · 119 citations
SPG3A is the most frequent cause of hereditary spastic paraplegia with onset before age 10 years
AbstractSeven families with six different SPG3A mutations were identified among 106 with autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). Two mutations were novel (T162P, C375R). SPG3A was twice as frequent as SPG4 in patients with onset before age 10 years (31.8%). Later onset was not observed. The phenotype was pure HSP, but disease duration was longer than in non-SPG3A/SPG4 patients, leading ultimately to greater handicap.
<i>SPG7</i> mutations are a common cause of undiagnosed ataxia
AbstractLate-onset ataxias are clinically and etiologically diverse. Patients rarely have defining clinical features, and many remain classified as idiopathic, despite extensive clinical, metabolic, and genetic investigations. Here we show that mutations in a gene known to cause hereditary spastic paraplegia ( SPG7 ) are a major cause of unexplained ataxia presenting in mid-adult life.
AbstractAlthough the combined presence of ataxia and pyramidal features has a long differential, the presence of a true spastic-ataxia as the predominant clinical syndrome has a rather limited differential diagnosis. Autosomal recessive ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay, late-onset Friedreich ataxia, and hereditary spastic paraplegia type 7 are examples of genetic diseases with such a prominent spastic-ataxic syndrome as the clinical hallmark. We review the various causes of spastic-ataxic syndromes with a focus on the genetic disorders, and provide a clinical framework, based on age at onset, mode of inheritance, and additional clinical features and neuroimaging signs, that could serve the diagnostic workup.
Epidemiology of ataxia and hereditary spastic paraplegia in Spain: A cross-sectional study
AbstractAtaxia and hereditary spastic paraplegia are rare neurodegenerative syndromes. We aimed to determine the prevalence of these disorders in Spain in 2019. We conducted a cross-sectional, multicentre, retrospective, descriptive study of patients with ataxia and hereditary spastic paraplegia in Spain between March 2018 and December 2019. We gathered data from a total of 1933 patients from 11 autonomous communities, provided by 47 neurologists or geneticists. Mean (SD) age in our sample was 53.64 (20.51) years; 938 patients were men (48.5%) and 995 were women (51.5%). The genetic defect was unidentified in 920 patients (47.6%). A total of 1371 patients (70.9%) had ataxia and 562 (29.1%) had hereditary spastic paraplegia. Prevalence rates for ataxia and hereditary spastic paraplegia were estimated at 5.48 and 2.24 cases per 100 000 population, respectively. The most frequent type of dominant ataxia in our sample was SCA3, and the most frequent recessive ataxia was Friedreich ataxia. The most frequent type of dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia in our sample was SPG4, and the most frequent recessive type was SPG7. In our sample, the estimated prevalence of ataxia and hereditary spastic paraplegia was 7.73 cases per 100 000 population. This rate is similar to those reported for other countries. Genetic diagnosis was not available in 47.6% of cases. Despite these limitations, our study provides useful data for estimating the necessary healthcare resources for these patients, raising awareness of these diseases, determining the most frequent causal mutations for local screening programmes, and promoting the development of clinical trials. Las ataxias (AT) y paraparesias espásticas hereditarias (PEH) son síndromes neurodegenerativos raros. Nos proponemos conocer la prevalencia de las AT y PEH (APEH) en España en 2019. Estudio transversal, multicéntrico, descriptivo y retrospectivo de los pacientes con AT y PEH, desde Marzo de 2018 a Diciembre de 2019 en toda España. Se obtuvo información de 1.933 pacientes procedentes de 11 Comunidades Autónomas, de 47 neurólogos o genetistas. Edad media: 53,64 años ± 20,51 desviación estándar (DE); 938 varones (48,5%), 995 mujeres (51,1%). En 920 pacientes (47,6%) no se conoce el defecto genético. Por patologías, 1.371 pacientes (70,9%) diagnosticados de AT, 562 diagnosticados de PEH (29,1%). La prevalencia estimada de AT es 5,48/100.000 habitantes, y la de PEH es 2,24 casos/100.000 habitantes. La AT dominante más frecuente es la SCA3. La AT recesiva más frecuente es la ataxia de Friedreich (FRDA). La PEH dominante más frecuente es la SPG4, y la PEH recesiva más frecuente es la SPG7. La prevalencia estimada de APEH en nuestra serie es de 7,73 casos/100.000 habitantes. Estas frecuencias son similares a las del resto del mundo. En el 47,6% no se ha conseguido un diagnóstico genético. A pesar de las limitaciones, este estudio puede contribuir a estimar los recursos, visibilizar estas enfermedades, detectar las mutaciones más frecuentes para hacer los screenings por comunidades, y favorecer los ensayos clínicos.
Practical recommendations for the clinical evaluation of patients with hereditary ataxia and hereditary spastic paraplegia
AbstractHereditary ataxia (HA) and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) are rare diseases; as such, they are rarely managed in general neurology consultations. We present a set of brief, practical recommendations for the diagnosis and management of these patients, as well as a standardised procedure for comprehensive evaluation of disability. We provide definitions for HA and “HA plus,” and “pure” and “complicated” HSP; describe the clinical assessment of these patients, indicating the main complementary tests and clinical scales for physical and psychological assessment of the patients; and summarise the available treatments. These recommendations are intended to facilitate daily neurological practice and to unify clinical criteria and disability assessment protocols for patients with HA and HSP. Las ataxias hereditarias (AH) y paraparesias espásticas hereditarias (PEH) son enfermedades raras, poco frecuentes en las consultas del neurólogo general. Proponemos una guía práctica y breve de diagnóstico y manejo de estos pacientes, así como un procedimiento para la evaluación integrada del grado de su discapacidad. Se describen por apartados los conceptos y definiciones de AH y AH-plus y PEH pura y complicada, la valoración clínica de los pacientes con las principales pruebas complementarias a realizar, las escalas clínicas necesarias para poder graduar la condición física y psíquica de los pacientes, y se resumen los tratamientos disponibles. Esta guía pretende facilitar la asistencia clínica diaria por parte del neurólogo y unificar los criterios médicos y la metodología de evaluación de la discapacidad de los pacientes con AH y paraparesias espásticas hereditarias.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
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