Ataxia

Ataxia is a lack of muscle coordination that may affect a person’s speech, eye movements, and ability to swallow, walk, and pick up objects. It can happen due to certain health conditions, genetics, and more. Many Ataxia may There are many types of ataxia. In this article, we discuss some of the more common types, their causes, and the available treatments. Share on Pinterest Ataxia can affect a person’s ability to balance. Ataxia is a symptom that Some people are born with ataxia due to genetic factors. Others develop it over time. For some people, it can result from another condition, such as a stroke, MS, a brain It can start suddenly, get worse over time, or stabilize. This depends partly on the cause. The following are some of the most common types of ataxia: Cerebellar ataxia This type of ataxia results from a dysfunction of the cerebellum, a region of the brain that plays a role in assimilating sensory perception, coordination, and motor control. Cerebellar ataxia can cause neurological symptoms such as: • jerking or shaking of the body or limbs when trying to move • decreased muscle tone • lack of coordination between organs, muscles, limbs, or joints • difficulty controlling distance, power, and speed of an arm, hand, leg, or eye movement • difficulty accurately estimating how much time has passed • inability to perform rapid, alternating movements How it affects the body and to what extent depends on where in the cerebellum the damage occurs, and whether lesions ...

Ataxia is a degenerative disease of the nervous system. Many symptoms of Ataxia mimic those of being drunk, such as slurred speech, stumbling, falling, and incoordination. These symptoms are caused by damage to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that is responsible for coordinating movement. Ataxia treatment involves a combination of medication to treat symptoms and therapy to improve quality of life. People affected by Ataxia may experience problems with using their fingers and hands, arms, legs, walking, speaking or moving their eyes. Ataxia affects people of all ages. Age of symptom-onset can vary widely, from childhood to late-adulthood. Complications from the disease are serious and oftentimes debilitating. Some types of Ataxia can lead to an early death. Ataxia symptoms vary by person and type of Ataxia. Rate of progression varies as well. Symptoms may worsen slowly, over decades – or quickly, over mere months. Common symptoms of Ataxia are: • Lack of coordination • Slurred speech • Trouble eating and swallowing • Deterioration of fine motor skills • Difficulty walking • Gait abnormalities • Eye movement abnormalities • Tremors • Heart problems Individuals with Ataxia often require the use of wheelchairs, walkers, and/or scooters to aid in their mobility. Tips to Prepare for A Doctor’s Appointment Taking an active role and advocating for patient needs is important when seeking an Ataxia diagnosis. Begin with a discussion with a primary care physician. However, som...

In hereditary ataxias, you are born with a gene mutation that affects coordination in a degenerative manner. Your symptoms may appear in childhood or develop later in life and will progress over time. The severity of the disability is dependent on a number of factors, such as the age of onset and the type of ataxia. • Stroke and other brain injuries that result in a lack of oxygen to the brain • Demyelinating diseases affecting the coating of nerves, like • Exposure to heavy metals such as lead and mercury • Alcohol use disorder (excessive use of alcohol) leading to problems in the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for coordinating voluntary movements • Medications like those used in chemotherapy and those used to treat epilepsy • Infectious diseases like encephalitis, HIV, and Whipple’s disease • Autoimmune diseases like • Vitamin deficiencies including B12 • Hereditary causes including Friedreich ataxia, • Stance: With ataxia that affects your stance, it is difficult to stand with your feet together for more than 30 seconds. • Gait ataxia: Loss of coordination in the legs and/or proprioceptive input, or understanding where your body is in space, can cause you to feel like you need to hold onto something as you walk. You may also walk with your feet wide apart to compensate for the feeling of falling. If you have a sensory or vestibular disturbance, you may also have difficulty walking when your eyes are closed or it’s dark outside. • Sensory ataxia: You may w...

Ataxia is a movement disorder caused by problems in the Ataxia isn’t a disorder or a disease itself -- it’s a sign of other underlying disorders or diseases. Doctors have discovered anywhere from 50 to 100 different ataxias. They are grouped into categories based on what causes them, or based on which part of the body they affect. Types of Ataxia by Affected Area Ataxia is caused by damage to different areas of the central nervous system. Doctors categorize it by the specific part of the • Cerebellar ( • Sensory (nerves) • Vestibular ( Cerebellar Ataxia Your cerebellum is the part of your Symptoms of cerebellar ataxia include: • Changes in your voice • • • • Muscle tremors • Slurred speech • Trouble • Wide gait Sensory Ataxia Sensory ataxia is the result of damage to nerves in your spinal cord or your peripheral nervous system. That is the part of your nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord. When you have sensory ataxia, you have less sensation in your Symptoms of sensory ataxia include: • Difficulty touching your finger to your nose with closed • Inability to sense vibrations • Trouble walking in dim light • Walking with a “heavy step,” or stomping when you walk Vestibular Ataxia Vestibular ataxia affects your vestibular system. This system is made up of your inner When the nerves in your vestibular system are affected, you can have the following problems: • Blurred • • Problems standing and sitting • Staggering when you walk • Trouble walking in a straight l...

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Ataxia is when you have problems coordinating how your muscles work, leading to awkward, unwieldy or clumsy movements. It’s a possible symptom with a wide range of conditions or circumstances, or it can happen as a stand-alone condition. Depending on why it happens, it’s sometimes possible to treat or reverse the effects of ataxia. Overview Ataxia can happen in different ways, each with slightly different effects. What is ataxia? Ataxia is when you have a problem with coordination, causing you to move in an uncertain, awkward or even clumsy way. It’s usually a sign of a problem with an area of your brain, ears or other parts of your nervous system. Is ataxia a symptom of a disease? Ataxia can refer to a group of diseases or a symptom of certain diseases. As a symptom, ataxia is extremely common. Ataxia as a condition is not as common and tends to happen only with certain genetic conditions and diseases. What is the difference between ataxia and apraxia? Ataxia and apraxia sound alike and have many similarities. However, there are also key differences. • Apraxia: This condition affects your brain, making it hard for you to do or describe actions you already know how to do. It happens because your brain has a problem with processing these actions. • Ataxia: This is a symptom that causes problems with coordinating muscle movements, affecting all actions (regardless of whether they're new or familiar). Your brain doesn’t have any problem with processing or describing the tasks...

“Ataxia” is the medical term that’s used to refer to issues with muscle coordination or control. People with ataxia often have trouble with things like movement, balance, and speech. There are several types of ataxia, and each type has a different cause. Read on to learn more about the types of ataxia, the causes, common symptoms, and possible treatment options. Ataxia describes an impairment of muscle control or coordination. This can affect different types of movements, including but not limited to: • walking • eating • talking • writing The area of your Damage to — or degeneration of — the Ataxia can affect people of any age. It’s often progressive, meaning that symptoms worsen over time. The rate of progression can vary by person as well as by type of ataxia. Sometimes the term “ataxia” is used to describe Ataxia can be: • inherited • acquired • idiopathic Below, we’ll look at each type of ataxia in more detail and what causes it. Inherited ataxia Inherited ataxias develop from mutations in specific genes that you inherit from your parents. These mutations can lead to damage or degeneration of nerve tissue, which leads to symptoms of ataxia. Inherited ataxia is typically passed down in • Dominant. Only one copy of the mutated gene is required to have the condition. This gene can be inherited from either parent. • Recessive. Two copies of the mutated gene (one from each parent) are required to have the condition. Some examples of dominant inherited ataxias are: • Spinoc...