In Friedreich ataxia (FA), cardiac disease is the major cause of premature mortality1 and a common cause of symptoms, yet our understanding of the nature of the myocardial involvement in FA remains incomplete. Weidemann et al2 are therefore to be congratulated for their report on comprehensive cardiac data acquired from a large cohort of FA subjects. The main aim of the study was the development of criteria for staging of the cardiomyopathy in FA; however, there are assumptions underlying the analysis that merit further consideration.