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How much do you know about ataxia? If you’re like most people, you may never have heard of it, yet 150,000 people in the U.S. are affected.
Ataxia is a degenerative disease of the nervous system, consisting of the loss of full control of muscle movements.
Common symptoms include:
While the term ataxia is primarily used to describe this set of symptoms, it is sometimes also used to refer to a family of disorders. It is not, however, a specific diagnosis.
There are three main types of ataxia:
Many cases of ataxia are as a result of damage to a part of the brain called the cerebellum, which serves as the balance and coordination center. The cerebellum assists in muscle coordination and helps maintain balance while walking or performing other movements, along with coordinating eye movements, speech and swallowing.
Sensory ataxia is a result of damage to the spinal cord, impairing the ability to coordinate the body and limbs for movement.
Vestibular ataxia affects one’s sense of balance and spatial orientation. Because the brain uses information from the vestibular system for movement, when the vestibular system is affected so is motion.
Currently, there is no cure for ataxia. For cases of ataxia brought on by non-genetic causes such as stroke or benign tumor, there may be treatments that can help. But for those with a genetic cause, research may one day hold the key to a treatment or cure.
Source and image: National Ataxia Foundation
