Severity of ataxia in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 is positively correlated with anxiety symptom presence

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), the most common subtype of hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia, has been associated with non-motor symptoms, including emotional dysfunction. Although anxiety has been documented in related disorders such as SCA2 and Parkinson’s disease, its prevalence and contributing risk factors in SCA3 remain poorly understood. In this study, we assessed anxiety levels in 110 Chinese patients with SCA3 using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). To identify risk factors for anxiety and to determine how these factors might influence other clinical phenotypes in SCA3 patients, we applied multivariate logistic regression and linear regression models. The prevalence of anxiety in our cohort was 58.18% (64/110), significantly higher than in the general population. The severity of ataxia ( p = 0.017) emerged as a risk factor for anxiety. Additionally, we observed a positive correlation between anxiety and the severity of ataxia ( p < 0.001) and a negative correlation between anxiety and cognitive function ( p = 0.003). Anxiety symptoms in SCA3 patients are a common non-motor disorder associated with ataxia. These symptoms also correlate with cognitive dysfunction and the severity of ataxia. Our findings suggest that anxiety is part of the neurodegenerative process in SCA3, highlighting the need for targeted interventions when managing these patients.