Transient Improvement of Spinocerebellar Ataxia with Zolpidem

To the Editor: There is currently no effective pharmacologic treatment for spinocerebellar ataxia. We describe a family of five patients, four of whom had clinical improvement within one hour after the ingestion of zolpidem (10 mg). The diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 was confirmed by molecular analysis. Analysis of DNA for CAG repeat expansions in the SCA1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 genes revealed expansion of CAG repeats at the SCA2 locus. Patient 1, a 49-year-old man with titubation, dizziness, and loss of balance from the age of 34 years, had deteriorating speech and handwriting. Cerebellar signs included moderate . . .