Common Causes
Episodic ataxia can develop at any age. Its causes include stress, medications, alcohol, illness, and physical exertion. 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.
Related Conditions
· The symptoms of ataxia vary based on the cause. 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 A wide-based gait Difficulty writing and eating
Is there a cure for ataxia?
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...
What is ataxia and what causes it?
· 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,...
What can cause ataxia?
· Other symptoms such as stiffness, tremor and dizziness might improve with treatments. Adaptive devices Ataxia caused by conditions such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy might not be treatable. In that case, your doctor may be able to recommend adaptive devices. They include: Hiking sticks or walkers for walking Modified utensils for eating
What causes cerebellar ataxia?
Ataxia Treatment Ataxia is an abnormal lack of coordination that can cause a stumbling gait, difficulty with fine motor activities, and vision and sometimes speech problems. Ataxia is a symptom, and can occur with a range of health problems including vitamin deficiencies and genetic mutations.
Is there any treatment for ataxia?
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.
What is the main cause of ataxia?
Ataxia usually results from damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle coordination (cerebellum) or its connections. Many conditions can cause ataxia, including alcohol misuse, stroke, tumor, brain degeneration, multiple sclerosis, certain medications and genetic disorders.
What medication causes ataxia?
Ataxia is a potential side effect of certain medications, especially barbiturates, such as phenobarbital; sedatives, such as benzodiazepines; antiepileptic drugs, such as phenytoin; and some types of chemotherapy.
What vitamin is good for ataxia?
Vitamin E supplementation in AVED patients stabilizes the neurological signs and can lead to mild improvement of cerebellar ataxia, especially in early stages of the disease.
Is ataxia a disease?
Ataxia is the term for a group of neurological diseases (diseases related to the nervous system) that affect movement and coordination. People with ataxia often have trouble with balance, coordination, swallowing, and speech.
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.
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 antibiotics cause ataxia?
The different antibiotics were separated according to the physiopathogenic mechanism that could cause them to trigger a gait disorder. They were classified into antibiotics capable of producing cerebellar ataxia, vestibular ataxia, sensitive ataxia or an extrapyramidal gait disorder.
Does ataxia cause death?
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.
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.
Is there a blood test for ataxia?
Genetic testing involves taking a sample of blood and testing the DNA in it for any genetic mutation known to cause ataxia. Currently, tests can detect the mutations responsible for Friedreich's ataxia, ataxia-telangiectasia and most of the spinocerebellar ataxias.
What are the early signs of ataxia?
Typically the most common symptoms of ataxia are listed below:Balance and coordination are affected first.Poor coordination of hands, arms, and legs.Slurring of speech.Wide-based gait (manner of walking)Difficulty with writing and eating.Slow eye movements.
What are the symptoms of ataxia?
A sign of a number of neurological disorders, ataxia can cause: Poor coordination. Unsteady walk and a tendency to stumble. Difficulty with fine motor tasks, such as eating, writing or buttoning a shirt. Change in speech. Involuntary back-and-forth eye movements (nystagmus) Difficulty swallowing.
How to treat ataxia?
Adaptive devices, such as walkers or canes, might help you maintain your independence. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and regular aerobic exercise also might help .
What causes ataxia?
Many conditions can cause ataxia, including alcohol misuse, certain medication, stroke, tumor, cerebral palsy, brain degeneration and multiple sclerosis. Inherited defective genes also can cause the condition. Treatment for ataxia depends on the cause.
What causes ataxia in the cerebellum?
Causes. Damage, degeneration or loss of nerve cells in the part of your brain that controls muscle coordination (cerebellum), results in ataxia. Your cerebellum comprises two portions of folded tissue situated at the base of your brain near your brainstem.
What is persistent ataxia?
Persistent ataxia usually results from damage to the part of your brain that controls muscle coordination (cerebellum). Ataxia describes a lack of muscle control or coordination of voluntary movements, such as walking or picking up objects. A sign of an underlying condition, ataxia can affect various movements and create difficulties with speech, ...
Is ataxia hereditary?
Some types of ataxia and some conditions that cause ataxia are hereditary. If you have one of these conditions, you were born with a defect in a certain gene that makes abnormal proteins.
What is Friedreich's ataxia?
Friedreich's ataxia. This common hereditary ataxia involves damage to your cerebellum, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Peripheral nerves carry signals from your brain and spinal cord to your muscles. In most cases, signs and symptoms appear well before age 25.
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 does it mean when you have ataxia?
It also is a name given to a group of diseases that cause degeneration of the central nervous system . People with ataxia may show a loss of balance, slurred speech, stumbling, and unusual eye movements. Your doctor may be able to diagnose your condition or could refer you to a neurologist.
What is the genetic cause of ataxia?
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.
Is ataxia a symptom of another disease?
Ataxia is more commonly a symptom of another disease process . If you experience loss of coordination or any of the other symptoms mentioned above, it’s important to talk to your doctor to determine the cause.
What are the symptoms of vestibular ataxia?
Vestibular ataxia: When the vestibular system, which is the inner ear and cochlea, are affected, you can get symptoms such as vertigo (dizziness or a spinning sensation), nausea, and difficulty walking in a straight line. 7. All three of these categories will have different ataxia symptoms.
Who is Cory Martin?
linkedin. Cory Martin is the author of six books including "Love Sick" a memoir about dating, life in Hollywood and dealing with MS. Her essays have appeared online with CNN, HuffPost, Everyday Health, Psychology Today, Folks, The Mighty, and more. Learn about our editorial process.
How many books does Cory Martin have?
Cory Martin is the author of six books including "Love Sick" a memoir about dating, life in Hollywood and dealing with MS. Her essays have appeared online with CNN, HuffPost, Everyday Health, Psychology Today, Folks, The Mighty, and more. Learn about our editorial process.
What are the symptoms of ataxia?
A healthcare provider may suggest a specific treatment option to target one of the following ataxia symptoms: Coordination and balance issues: Adaptive devices such as walking sticks, crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs can help a person maintain independence.
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 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.
What are the symptoms of Cerebellar Ataxia?
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.
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.
What is the loss of proprioception?
This is a type of ataxia that develops due to a loss of proprioception. Proprioception is a person’s sense of the relative position of neighboring parts of their body. It is a sense that indicates whether the body is moving with appropriate effort and gives feedback on the position of body parts relative to each other.
What are the symptoms of ataxia?
slurred or unclear speech. tremors or muscle spasms. difficulties with eating or swallowing. abnormal eye movements, such as slower-than-normal eye movement or nystagmus, a type of involuntary eye movement. It’s important to remember that ataxia symptoms can vary by the type of ataxia as well as its severity.
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 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.
What is the best test for ataxia?
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. Lumbar puncture (spinal tap). With a lumbar puncture, a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is collected from between two vertebrae in the lower back.
Is there a cure for ataxia?
In some cases of acquired ataxia, treating the underlying cause, such as an infection or a vitamin deficiency, can ease symptoms. There’s no cure for many kinds of ataxia. However, there are several interventions that may help to ease or manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Medications.
What is the definition of ataxia?
The bottom line. Ataxia is a lack of muscle coordination and control. People with ataxia have trouble with things like movement, fine motor tasks, and maintaining balance. Ataxia can be inherited or acquired, or it can have no identifiable cause. Symptoms, progression, and age of onset can vary depending on the type of ataxia.
Where is the cerebellum located?
It’s located at the base of your brain just above the brainstem. Damage to — or degeneration of — the nerve cells in or around the cerebellum can result in ataxia.
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 is the best treatment for ataxia?
Occupational therapy to help you with daily living tasks, such as feeding yourself. Speech therapy to improve speech and aid swallowing. Research has shown that transcranial magnetic stimulation may help improve gait and postural control in people with ataxia, but more research is needed.
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.
What are the benefits of physical therapy?
You might benefit from certain therapies, including: Physical therapy to help your coordination and enhance your mobility. Occupational therapy to help you with daily living tasks, such as feeding yourself. Speech therapy to improve speech and aid swallowing.
What are some interventions for ataxia?
Other ataxia interventions include physical and occupational therapy, and adaptive devices such as a can e, 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 ...
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.
Who is Jennifer Millar?
Ms. Jennifer Millar, physical therapist, discusses the benefits of exercise for managing the symptoms of ataxia. She further describes and then demonstrates exercises that individuals with ataxia can do to improve their core strength and balance.
What to expect at Johns Hopkins?
Ataxia Treatment at Johns Hopkins: What to Expect 1 If the underlying cause of ataxia is determined, your treatment will focus on addressing this underlying condition and, if possible, reversing the dysfunction. 2 If the cause of ataxia is still unclear or has a genetic component, your treatment will focus on managing ataxia symptoms and helping you improve your quality of life.
What is the cause of ataxia?
It is caused by an abnormality of a single gene called the Frataxin (FXN) gene. The abnormality can be passed from generation to generation by family members who carry it.
How do you know if you have ataxia?
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: 1 Lack of coordination 2 Slurred speech 3 Trouble eating and swallowing 4 Deterioration of fine motor skills 5 Difficulty walking 6 Gait abnormalities 7 Eye movement abnormalities 8 Tremors 9 Heart problems
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 ...
How does ataxia affect the brain?
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.
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:
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.
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.
Types of ataxia
Some types of ataxia present in childhood, while others develop at an adult age.
Ataxia diagnosis
If unexplainable symptoms appear, such as problems involving balance and coordination or difficulty in walking, speaking or swallowing, the person is advised to see their primary care physician. After consulting the primary care physician, the specialist who deals with ataxia is a neurologist specialized in brain and nervous system disorders.
Ataxia treatment
In most cases, there is no cure for ataxia. The following treatments can be used to control ataxia symptoms:
