Ataxia - symptoms and causes (2023)

FAQs

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.

People with the condition tend to have a shorter life expectancy than normal. Many people live until at least their 30s, and some can live into their 60s or beyond.

Even in families where hereditary ataxia has presented in multiple generations, patients may struggle for an accurate diagnosis because the disease can be mistaken for other movement disorders, such as multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

In most cases, there's no cure for ataxia and supportive treatment to control the symptoms is necessary. This may include: speech and language therapy to help with speech and swallowing problems. physiotherapy to help with movement problems.

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.

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.

Ataxia patients may sometimes benefit by avoiding simple carbohydrates. What this means is to eliminate foods sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, sugar, and artificial sweetener; no or very small amounts of cookies, cakes, candies, pastries, white flour, and fruit juice.

Rapid progression of ataxia (within months) should prompt a search for underlying malignancy, including with serological testing for paraneoplastic antibodies. 4 A fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography study may be indicated, even if the CT scan of thorax, abdomen and pelvis is normal.

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.

Is ataxia a form of dementia? ›

Dementia occurs only in some forms of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), such as SCA1,¹ SCA2, SCA3,² and SCA12,³ developing in the latest stages of the disease.

Ataxia in the sense of uncoordinated movement is a primary symptom of Parkinson's Disease, while Ataxia as shorthand for Spinocerebellar Ataxia refers to a set of genetic conditions with which Parkinson's Disease has some symptoms in common.

Benzodiazepines – Most commonly described in children with epilepsy. Ataxia is often mild and reversible. Elderly patients are also susceptible to benzodiazepine ataxia. Others – Carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, lacosamide, lamotrigine, rufinamide, zonisamide, ezogabine, gabapentin, felbamate, and phenobarbital.

In the most severe cases, ataxia resembles ALS, making it difficult to swallow and eventually to breathe.

Ataxia can also be caused by a stroke. The appropriate imaging of ataxia depends on the suspected cause. When ataxia occurs after head injury, CT scan of the brain without intravenous (IV) contrast is usually an appropriate initial imaging test.

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.

Description. Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency is a disorder that impairs the body's ability to use vitamin E obtained from the diet. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which means that it protects cells in the body from the damaging effects of unstable molecules called free radicals.

Romberg's test is used to assess for loss of proprioceptive or vestibular function (known as sensory ataxia). The test does not assess cerebellar function and instead is used to quickly screen for evidence of sensory ataxia (i.e. non-cerebellar causes of balance issues).

Our ataxia team includes neurologists and experts in other specialties, including physical therapy, diet, genetic counseling and speech-language pathology, who all work together to help identify underlying conditions and manage symptoms.

Most people with a cerebellar ataxia are able to safely drive. It is the duty of someone who develops a cerebellar disorder to notify the road licensing authority in their state, to ensure that their driver's license is valid and that they are covered by their insurance.

What is the new drug for ataxia? ›

The recently approved drug, SKYCLARYS, showed promise in the Phase 2 MOXIe trial for slowing the progression of Friedreich's ataxia. The placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded trial tested the use of SKYCLARYS over a 48-week period.

Episodes of ataxia and other symptoms can begin anytime from early childhood to adulthood. They can be triggered by environmental factors such as stress, caffeine, alcohol, certain medications, physical activity, and illness.

A stroke that affects the cerebellum can cause problems with coordination and muscle control. This means that your nervous system may struggle to coordinate movement, which is a condition known as ataxia.

The several symptoms of ataxia may occur due to various underlying causes. However, certain factors like stress, caffeine, and specific medications also trigger the development of ataxia. Prolonged intake of caffeine may lead to loss of motor skills and problems with balance and coordination.

Conclusion: Ataxia cerebellar dementia and leukoencephalopathy can result from vitamin B12 deficiency.

“The aerobic training group showed improvement in ataxia, which is the primary complaint of these patients.” With no available disease-modifying medications, balance training to improve motor skills and functional performance has been the mainstay of treatment.

Although not everyone with ataxia uses a wheelchair, many people find it makes life easier. Some people can walk short distances or stand for a short period; they may use a wheelchair for the rest of the time.

Stress is the most common trigger among episodic neurologic disorders. In episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2), physical or emotional stress causes episodes of severe motor dysfunction that manifest as ataxia and dystonia.

It largely depends on the type of ataxia you have. Some types may stay stable or even improve with time. But most will get progressively worse over many years. Life expectancy is generally shorter than normal for people with hereditary ataxia, although some people can live well into their 50s, 60s or beyond.

An unsteady, staggering gait is described as an ataxic gait because walking is uncoordinated and appears to be 'not ordered'. Many motor activities may be described as ataxic if they appear to others, or are perceived by patients, as uncoordinated.

What are the 3 types of ataxia? ›

The three types of ataxia, according to the location, are cerebellar, sensory, and vestibular.

Many neurological manifestations of COVID‐19 have been reported in the literature that range from mild non‐specific features such as headache, lethargy or confusion; isolated focal signs including hyposmia, focal seizures, eye‐movement abnormalities or ataxia; through to severe life‐threatening conditions including ...

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.

Viral infections that may cause this include chickenpox, Coxsackie disease, Epstein-Barr, echovirus, among others. Other causes of acute cerebellar ataxia include: Abscess of the cerebellum. Alcohol, medicines, insecticides, and illicit drugs.

As the name implies, people with ataxia neuropathy spectrum typically have problems with coordination and balance (ataxia) and disturbances in nerve function (neuropathy). The neuropathy can be classified as sensory, motor, or a combination of the two (mixed).

Neuroradiological diagnosis of hereditary degenerative ataxias can be very challenging, given that usually brain MRI scans show, in most of these conditions, the presence of non-specific and sometimes overlapping imaging findings.

Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED) is a rare cause of hereditary ataxia in developing countries with unknown prevalence. AVED is an autosomal-recessive disorder, which is characterized by ataxia, areflexia, and proprioceptive and vibratory sensory loss.

Depending on severity of symptoms treatment can be parenteral or oral with cyanocobalamin or hydroxocobalamin. 1. Patients diagnosed with ataxia and Vitamin B12 deficiency should be treated with Vitamin B12.

Rapid progression of ataxia (within months) should prompt a search for underlying malignancy, including with serological testing for paraneoplastic antibodies. 4 A fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography study may be indicated, even if the CT scan of thorax, abdomen and pelvis is normal.

What is the new medicine for ataxia? ›

FDA has approved Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) as the first treatment for Friedreich's ataxia, a rare, inherited, degenerative disease that damages the nervous system, characterized by impaired coordination and walking.