Ataxia
- Diagnosis. If you have ataxia, your doctor will look for a treatable cause. ...
- Treatment. There's no treatment specifically for ataxia. ...
- Clinical trials. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this disease.
- Coping and support. ...
- Preparing for your appointment. ...
What are the different causes of ataxia?
- Ataxia Telangiectasia. ...
- Ataxia with Isolated Vitamin E Deficiency. ...
- Autosomal Dominant Spinocerebellar Ataxia. ...
- Friedreich's Ataxia. ...
- Infantile-Onset Spinocerebellar Ataxia. ...
- Posterior Column and Retinitis Pigmentosa. ...
- Spinocerebellar Ataxia Types. ...
- Sporadic Spinocerebellar Ataxia. ...
- X-linked Sideroblastic Anemia and Ataxia
What is ataxia and what causes it?
What is Ataxia? 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.
Is there a cure for ataxia?
despite satisfactory treatment compliance and an absence of serious adverse events,” Coarelli and colleagues wrote. “Although this result does not exclude a possible positive effect of riluzole on other forms of cerebellar ataxia, it illustrates the ...
Does ataxia go away?
If ataxia results from an injury or illness, such as a stroke, symptoms often improve over time and may eventually go away completely. A person with ataxia may need help walking. There is not usually a cure for ataxia, but treatment can ease symptoms and help improve quality of life.
What is the main cause of ataxia?
Ataxia is usually caused by damage to a part of the brain known as the cerebellum, but it can also be caused by damage to the spinal cord or other nerves. The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerves that runs down the spine and connects the brain to all other parts of the body.
What is the best treatment for ataxia?
episodic ataxia can often be controlled with a medication called acetazolamide and by avoiding triggers such as stress, alcohol and caffeine. acquired ataxia can sometimes be treated depending on the specific cause – for example, antibiotic or antiviral medication may help if it's caused by an infection.
Can ataxia be cured?
This condition happens when the part of the brain called the cerebellum is damaged. There is no cure for ataxia, but the symptoms can be treated.
What are the signs of ataxia?
People diagnosed with ataxia lose muscle control in their arms and legs, which may lead to a lack of balance, coordination, and trouble walking. Ataxia may affect the fingers, hands, arms, legs, body, speech, and even eye movements.
Does a neurologist treat ataxia?
Many forms of ataxia are rare conditions that might be challenging to precisely diagnose and treat. It is therefore crucial that patients with ataxia consult neurologists with a special expertise in the field of ataxia.
Does walking help ataxia?
Neuromotor exercises and physical therapy focusing on coordination and balance has been shown to improve or halt the progression of functional decline and are the mainstay treatments for Ataxia. The evidence has shown that balance training could improve the quality of walking as well as reduce the risk of falls.
How serious is ataxia?
Life expectancy is generally shorter than normal for people with hereditary ataxia, although some people can live well into their 50s, 60s or beyond. In more severe cases, the condition can be fatal in childhood or early adulthood. For acquired ataxia, the outlook depends on the underlying cause.
What vitamin is good for ataxia?
A form of vitamin B3 has shown early promise against Friedreich's ataxia, a debilitating degenerative disease with no treatment or cure, in the first human trial of the treatment involving UCL researchers.
Who treats ataxia?
Patients with the many types of rare Ataxias can benefit from multidisciplinary specialists, which often include genetic counselors, speech therapists, physical therapists, and other specialists who are devoted to the care and treatment of those with Ataxia.
How long does ataxia last?
People with the condition usually live until the age of 19 to 25, although some may live into their 50s.
Can ataxia be caused by stress?
Episodes of ataxia and other symptoms can begin anytime from early childhood to adulthood. They can be triggered by environmental factors such as emotional stress, caffeine, alcohol, certain medications, physical activity, and illness. The frequency of attacks ranges from several per day to one or two per year.
Is ataxia a mental illness?
Ataxia is a movement disorder caused by problems in the brain. When you have ataxia, you have trouble moving parts of your body the way you want. Or the muscles in your arms and legs might move when you don't want them to. The word ataxia actually means “without coordination.”
What are the symptoms of ataxia?
A common symptom of this type of ataxia is the appearance of enlarged (dilated) blood vessels known as telangiectasias in the eyes and on the skin of the face. Children with AT have symptoms including increasing difficulty walking, coordinating movements, looking from side to side, and trouble speaking.
How do doctors diagnose ataxia?
Doctors consider many factors when diagnosing ataxia. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical and family history to determine if you have ataxia, and if so, what type it is.
What is AT in medical terms?
Knowing the type can help doctors evaluate the condition and define a treatment plan. Ataxia telangiectasia (AT): Also known as Louis-Bar Syndrome, AT is an inherited condition. It typically develops in babies or young children.
How often does episodic ataxia occur?
These episodes can happen multiple times per day, or just one or two times a year. Episodic ataxia can develop at any age.
How many types of episodic ataxia are there?
There are seven types of episodic ataxia, all of which have unique symptoms in addition to difficulty with movement, including dizziness, headaches, blurry vision, and nausea and vomiting.
What age does Friedreich's ataxia develop?
Friedreich’s ataxia is the most common type of genetic ataxia. It typically develops between ages 5 and 15.
Why do people with ataxia have trouble swallowing?
People with ataxia often have trouble with balance, coordination, swallowing, and speech. Ataxia usually develops as a result of damage to a part of the brain that coordinates movement (cerebellum). Ataxia can develop at any age. It is typically progressive, meaning it can get worse with time.
What are some examples of acquired ataxia?
Some examples of things that can lead to acquired ataxia include: injury to the head. stroke. tumors affecting the brain and surrounding area. infections, such as meningitis, HIV, and chickenpox.
What can help with ataxia?
A CT or MRI scan can create detailed images of your brain. This can help your doctor to see any abnormalities or tumors. Blood tests . Blood tests can be used to help determine the cause of your ataxia, particularly if it’s due to an infection, vitamin deficiency, or hypothyroidism.
How is ataxia passed down?
Inherited ataxia is typically passed down in two different ways: Dominant. Only one copy of the mutated gene is required to have the condition. This gene can be inherited from either parent.
What are some examples of dominant inherited ataxias?
Some examples of dominant inherited ataxias are: Spinocerebellar ataxia. There are dozens of different types spinocerebellar ataxia. Each type is classified by the specific area of the gene that’s mutated. Symptoms and the age at which the symptoms develop can vary by type of ataxia. Episodic ataxia.
What is Friedreich's ataxia?
Friedreich’s ataxia. Also known as spinocerebellar degeneration, Friedreich’s ataxia is the most common inherited ataxia. In addition to difficulties with movement and speech, muscle weakening can also occur. This type of ataxia can also affect the heart.
How many types of ataxia are there?
Episodic ataxia. This type of ataxia isn’t progressive and instead occurs in episodes. There are seven different types of episodic ataxia. The symptoms and length of the ataxia episodes can vary by type.
How do you know if you have ataxia?
Some of the most common symptoms of ataxia can include: problems with coordination and balance, which can include clumsiness, an unsteady gait, and frequent falling. trouble with fine motor tasks, such as writing, picking up small objects, or buttoning up clothes. slurred or unclear speech. tremors or muscle spasms.
How to help someone with ataxia?
Talking to a counselor or therapist might help. Or you might find encouragement and understanding in a support group, either for ataxia or for your underlying condition, such as cancer or multiple sclerosis.
What are the symptoms of ataxia?
Your doctor might recommend treatment to manage symptoms, such as depression, stiffness, tremor, fatigue or dizziness, or suggest adaptive devices or therapies to help with your ataxia.
What tests are available for hereditary ataxia?
Genetic testing. Your doctor might recommend genetic testing to determine whether you or your child has the gene mutation that causes one of the hereditary ataxic conditions. Gene tests are available for many but not all of the hereditary ataxias.
What can be seen on a CT scan for ataxia?
A CT scan or MRI of your brain might help determine potential causes. An MRI can sometimes show shrinkage of the cerebellum and other brain structures in people with ataxia. It may also show other treatable findings, such as a blood clot or benign tumor, that could be pressing on your cerebellum.
What tests do you need to check for ataxia?
Besides conducting a physical exam and a neurological exam, including checking your memory and concentration, vision, hearing, balance, coordination, and reflexes, your doctor might request laboratory tests, including: Imaging studies.
Can you treat ataxia with medication?
There's no treatment specifically for ataxia . In some cases, treating the underlying cause resolves the ataxia, such as stopping medications that cause it. In other cases, such as ataxia that results from chickenpox or other viral infections, it's likely to resolve on its own. Your doctor might recommend treatment to manage symptoms, such as depression, stiffness, tremor, fatigue or dizziness, or suggest adaptive devices or therapies to help with your ataxia.
Does magnetic stimulation help with ataxia?
Research has shown that transcranial magnetic stimulation may help improve gait and postural control in people with ataxia, but more research is needed. Some studies have indicated that aerobic exercise also may be beneficial for some people with idiopathic ataxic syndromes.
How does ataxia affect your life?
These symptoms affect your balance and the way you walk, talk, and move through your daily life. 1.
How to diagnose ataxia?
To diagnose ataxia, your healthcare provider will take a full medical history. They will go over your symptoms and conduct a physical exam looking for any of the ataxias mentioned above.
What is the term for the loss of coordination in the body?
Ataxia is the term used to describe the loss of coordination in the body. This loss of coordination can manifest as a loss of balance, slurred speech, stumbling, a wide gait, or a variety of other symptoms. Ataxia can be a symptom of an underlying disease, such as multiple sclerosis, or it can be the cause itself.
What are the symptoms of ataxia?
If the cause is an underlying disease or disease process, such as a stroke, tumor, alcoholism, or nerve damage, you may experience symptoms such as: Poor coordination. Balance problems. Inability to coordinate hands, arms, and legs. Slurred speech.
What is the term for when damage occurs to the cerebellum—the part of the brain that controls coordination?
Cerebellar ataxia: When damage occurs to the cerebellum—the part of the brain that controls coordination—symptoms of ataxia will occur. 6
What are the three categories of ataxia?
There are three main categories of ataxia based on the part of the body that is affected. These are sensory, cerebellar, and vestibular ataxias:
When do symptoms of sporadic ataxia appear?
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. In sporadic ataxia, there is no family history of the disease and symptoms usually begin in adulthood.
What causes ataxia in the brain?
Many conditions and other factors can cause ataxia, including multiple sclerosis (MS), head trauma, excessive alcohol intake, a stroke, cerebral palsy, genetics, and tumors.
How does ataxia develop?
Symptoms vary depending on the type and severity of ataxia. The age of onset will depend on the cause. If ataxia develops due to genetic features, it can be present from birth. If it is due to an injury or another health condition, symptoms may emerge at any age.
Why do some tumors cause ataxia?
Some tumors cause ataxia due to a paraneoplastic syndrome. These tumors, which are typically ovarian, produce chemicals that impair the cerebellum. Ataxia is the main symptom.
How does ataxia affect people?
Ataxia is a symptom that can result. Trusted Source. from a range of conditions. It affects a person’s coordination, speech, and balance. It can also make it hard to swallow and walk. Some people are born with ataxia due to genetic factors.
What are the symptoms of Friedreich's ataxia?
weakened heart muscle. high arching feet. Conditions that may occur alongside Friedreich’s ataxia include diabetes and heart problems, and there may be complications relating to the spine, feet, heart, muscles, vision, and hearing.
How many parents need to carry defective gene for spinocerebellar ataxia?
In the case of spinocerebellar ataxia, only one parent needs to carry the defective gene, and each of their offspring would have a 50% chance of developing the condition. Sometimes, a person develops or is born with ataxia without a clear cause, such as when there is no family history of the condition.
What is the role of the cerebellum in 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.
What does it mean when you have ataxia?
Ataxia means without coordination. People with ataxia lose muscle control in their arms and legs. This may lead to a lack of balance, coordination, and trouble walking. Ataxia may affect the fingers, hands, arms, legs, body, speech, and even eye movements.
What causes sudden ataxia?
Difficulty with writing and eating. Slow eye movements . Certain injuries or illnesses can cause ataxia to appear suddenly, such as head injury, stroke, brain hemorrhage, infections, exposure to certain drugs, or if breathing or the heart stops.
What causes ataxia to appear gradually?
Some conditions can cause ataxia to appear gradually, such as hypothyroidism, alcohol abuse, certain vitamin deficiencies, chronic exposure to certain drugs, multiple sclerosis, and other disorders.
What causes ataxia in the brain?
A defective gene makes abnormal proteins that cause the nerve cell degeneration leading to ataxia . As the disease progresses, muscles become less and less responsive to the commands of the brain. This causes balance and coordination to worsen.
How do you know if you have ataxia?
Contact your provider if you have any of the following symptoms: Balance and coordination problems. Lack of coordination in hands, arms, or legs. Slurring of speech.
How to help with lack of coordination?
The treatment for the lack of coordination or imbalance mostly involves the use of adaptive devices to allow the person to maintain as much independence as possible. These devices may include a cane, crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair. Physical therapy, speech therapy, and medicines to help symptoms, such as tremor, stiffness, depression, ...
Can ataxia cause death?
Progression of the different types of ataxia may vary with each specific syndrome. In the worst case scenario, the person may have untreatable rigidity, breathing trouble, or choking which can lead to death.
What are some ways to treat ataxia?
Other Treatments. Other ataxia interventions include physical and occupational therapy, and adaptive devices such as a cane, walker or wheelchair. Patients with ataxia may benefit from regular physical and mental exercise, and eating healthy and sleeping well.
What tests are done for ataxia?
These tests may include blood tests, brain and spinal cord imaging, muscle and nerve tests, and genetic testing. If the underlying cause ...
How to contact Johns Hopkins Ataxia Center?
To request an appointment or refer a patient, please contact the Johns Hopkins Ataxia Center at 410-616-2816.
Does medication slow down ataxia?
Medication typically has minimal impact on slowing ataxia’s progression unless it is caused by nutritional deficiencies. In that case, it responds well to supplements. Examples of treatable ataxias include those due to deficiencies of vitamin E or coenzyme Q10, and episodic ataxia type 2.
Is ataxia a symptom?
Ataxia is a symptom, and can occur with a range of health problems including vitamin deficiencies and genetic mutations. Johns Hopkins’ Ataxia Center focuses on people whose ataxia symptoms are worsening over time. We offer long-term, multidisciplinary care to help you navigate both symptoms and underlying conditions.
How does ataxia affect people?
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.
What is the best treatment for ataxia?
It is important to work closely with a neurologist to develop a plan to address symptoms. Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy are common treatment options.
How to prepare for an ataxia appointment?
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, some physicians may not be familiar with Ataxia because it is a rare disease.
What is the chance of inheriting autosomal dominant ataxia?
Autosomal Dominant Ataxias. Each child of a parent with an autosomal dominant Ataxia gene has a 50% chance of inheriting the Ataxia gene. Since the gene is dominant, if a gene is passed on to the child from one parent, the child will develop the disease. Men and women are affected equally.
How is ataxia diagnosed?
Diagnosis. Ataxia is diagnosed using a combination of strategies that may include medical history, family history, and a complete neurological evaluation. Various blood tests may be performed to rule out other disorders. Genetic blood tests are available for many types of hereditary Ataxia.
How long does it take for ataxia to worsen?
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:
What is the degenerative disease of the nervous system?
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 ...
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Coping and Support
Preparing For Your Appointment
- There is no specific treatment for ataxia. In some cases, treating the underlying cause may help improve the ataxia. In other cases, such as ataxia that results from chickenpox or other viral infections, it is likely to resolve on its own. Your doctor might recommend adaptive devices or therapies to help with your ataxia. Other symptoms such as sti...