Conclusion
degenerative ataxia, degenerative cerebellar ataxias, degenerative ataxias, Ataxia
MOVEMENT DISORDERS, ATAXIA, PARKINSON'S DISEASE, DISEASE COURSE
Therapeutic misestimation is common in patients with degenerative ataxia and requires special attention in future trials. © 2022 The Authors. 

The degenerative cerebellar ataxias encompass a heterogeneous group of inherited and acquired conditions that share an invariably progressive disease course. Apart from a handful of exceptions, specific interventions that provide clinically meaningful benefits are currently lacking and treatment still focuses on exercise and rehabilitation programs.Intriguingly, 3 recent trials from different research groups demonstrated a larger reduction in Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) score, albeit not statistically significant, among patients who received placebo compared with those in the intervention arms.In contrast to other movement disorders, in particular Parkinson's disease, there is a paucity of studies that have directly investigated the placebo response in degenerative ataxias.