Ataxia is a neurological disorder that affects the ability to coordinate muscle movements. It can cause problems with balance, speech, and vision.
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What is Ataxia?
Ataxia can affect any area of the body but often affects the hands, arms and legs. This can make basic movements like walking or reaching difficult. Ataxia can also cause problems with speech and vision.
Types of Ataxia
- Friedreich’s ataxia
- Inherited ataxias
- Cerebellar ataxia
- Sensory ataxia
- Vestibular ataxia
Inherited Ataxias
Hereditary Ataxia can be divided into those that are dominantly inherited, passing from generation to generation due a single copy of the defective gene.
And there’s also recessive ataxia seen in just one instance – caused by two copies being present on an individual’s DNA strand which leads him/her to become affected with this condition if he or she has anything like it coming down through their lineage.
These types of ataxia are a type of genetic disease that can be passed on from parent to child. Dominantly inherited, they only require one copy of the defective gene for carrier status and usually do not show any symptoms while recessively carrying two copies results in severe symptoms such as slurred speech or erratic movement due to a lack of coordination skills.
Cerebellar Ataxia
Cerebellar ataxia is a condition that affects balance and coordination caused by damage to the cerebellum.
But, Cerebellar ataxia is a condition that develops when part of the cerebellum starts to wear away.
Cerebellar ataxia is a brain disorder that affects balance and movements.
Spinocerebellar Condition
Spinocerebellar Ataxia is a rare, inherited disorder that leads to the deterioration of nerve cells in charge of controlling movement.
The most well-known cases found 40 different genes. But recent research has uncovered even more affected individuals and additional symptoms. Including loss of coordination skills like tremors or pose reduction due to Trembling. Movement legislators which could mean one thing: there may be other unknowns out there affecting people’s lives!
Episodic Ataxia
The most common type of Ataxia is episodic, which has an obvious onset and offset. There are now eight recognized syndromes that can be categorized as such including late-onset cases too!
The genes responsible for this condition have been found to include EA1 through 2, ES5 & 6. It’s worth noting these other rare forms exist largely in single families. But no one knows how they suffer from their symptoms since only a few people who live near each other seem affected by them altogether.
Autosomal Recessive Ataxia
Autosomal recessive inherited diseases affect males and females equally, but both parents must be carriers of the Ataxia gene. Each child has a 25% chance of developing this debilitating condition if they inherit just one copy from each parent who carries an affected trait (carriers have 50%, while children do not).
As long as there is no other family history or suspected carrier status within your lineage. Which would raise suspicion- you could show no symptoms whatsoever!
Friedreich's ataxia
Friedreich Ataxia is a hereditary neurological disorder caused by an abnormality in the Frataxin gene.
However, Friedreich Ataxia is a hereditary neurological disorder that affects movement.
Friedreich Ataxia is an inherited disease that affects the nervous system and is caused by an abnormality in a single gene.
Ataxia Telangiectasia
Ataxia Telangiectasia is a disease that appears early in childhood when children start to walk. They usually do so at an appropriate age, but they can still be seen swaying or wobbling while walking; standing still for too long could cause you tilt back and forth continuously until your balance returns!
The signs of this condition include tiny red “spider vein” like lines on the corners (or surface) eyes as well as some other areas – such face-, and earlobe/armpit region exposed towards sunlight will show up very swollen due to these little rivers running through them.
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Acquired Ataxias
Acquired ataxias are a rare condition that can be caused by any number of things. The most common cause is external events, which means they develop because you experienced something during your life like nutritional deficiencies or other medical problems/exposures to toxins (especially alcohol).
A large group with this type seems “out-of-nowhere” and has no family history whatsoever.
However, there may be an acquired instance where somebody has lost muscle control due to lacklustre muscles doing repetitive tasks over and over.
Sporadic Ataxia
The symptoms of Ataxia are variable, but it is typically characterized by decreased movement or tone. There may be other signs that can help diagnose this disease including REM Behavior Disorder and difficulty with balance tasks such as alternating between standing on one foot while maintaining touch Christian Science Monitor.
The National Atlas reports an estimated prevalence rate for sporadic ataxias ranging from 1 in every 10 thousand people up to 6 million individuals nationwide. These statistics suggest how difficult diagnosing neurodegenerative disorders like Sporadic Ataxia can be.
Your doctor may use a number of terms when diagnosing Sporadic Ataxia. They include:
- Olivopontocerebellar atrophy (DCPA)
- Olivopontocerebellar degeneration
- Idiopathiclate onset cerebellar atrophy (ILOCA)
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Nervous System
The nervous system is what controls how you feel and how you move. It includes your brain and spinal cord. It can be divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
CNS
The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system that controls the most vital functions of the body, such as heartbeat, breathing, and digestion. The CNS is made up of the brain, optic nerves and the spinal cord.
PNS
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the part of the nervous system that controls the body’s muscles and senses. The PNS is made up of the spinal cord and all of the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.
This includes the nerves in the arms and legs and is instrumental for proprioception.
Proprioception or kinesthesia is the sense that lets us perceive our body’s location and movement. It includes a complex of sensations including perception about the joint position as well as muscle force/effort.
Causes of Ataxia
The brain controls muscle coordination and its connections, which are found at the base of your skull in what is called “the cerebellum.” This small region helps control balance as well as eye movement; swallowing functions such as speech production.
There can be three main causes for Ataxia: acquired (new), degenerative disease process or hereditary issues with how our bodies function due to this part being damaged.
Ataxia causes motor problems, speech difficulty and muscle weakness.
Hereditary Ataxia
This ataxia is a type of genetic disease that can be passed through the family due to its relation to one’s genes. There are two different types: dominantly inherited when only copy contains all relevant information about how much damage there is, and recessively expressed if both parents have slight versions instead; these result in children being born affected by this condition regardless of whether they’ve been exposed themselves through the pregnancy process.
It can be seen that the causes of ataxia are manifold.
Acquired causes
There are many external factors that cause ataxia. The following conditions can cause ataxia but are not conclusive:
- Alcohol. Long-term excess alcohol intake may cause persistent ataxia and it’s possible that by avoiding all forms of the substance, you could improve your symptoms.
- Medications. Ataxia is a side effect that can occur when certain medications are taken, especially those with names beginning in “barb” or containing the word ‘sedative’. These include Phenytoin (a type of antiepileptic), and benzodiazepines such as Librium which may cause drowsiness; some types of chemotherapy do too.
- Toxins. Lead and mercury can cause ataxia as well. solvent poisoning from paint thinner is an example of this type of metal poisoning that could lead to balance problems in some people who consumed it heavily over time.
- Vitamin Deficiency. Some people may not be getting enough vitamin E, B-1 andB12 which can lead to ataxia. A deficiency or excess of anyone will cause this condition so it’s important for your health!
- Autoimmune Diseases. Ataxia can be caused by a number of different conditions. Some examples include sarcoidosis, celiac disease and certain types of encephalomyelitis while multiple sclerosis may lead to atonic spells in patients who suffer from it.
- Paraneoplastic syndromes. The immune system’s response to a cancerous tumour (neoplasm), most commonly from lung, ovarian or breast cancers can cause rare degenerative disorders. Ataxia may appear months before diagnosis and is often hard for patients with these conditions because it affects their muscle strength which causes difficulty walking among other things.
Different types of ataxia may be associated with multiple sclerosis, where part of the brain involved in fine motor control is affected by lesions. Ataxia may be linked to many other autoimmune diseases. A particular type of ataxia could be linked to multiple sclerosis.
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Treating Ataxia
Ataxia can be treated in many ways. You might need to see a neurologist to help you find the best way to manage your ataxia symptoms. Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy are common treatment options that can help improve your quality of life. You might also need to take medication to help manage your ataxia symptoms.
It is also important to eat a healthy diet so you can stay strong and healthy. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables will help keep you strong. By eating a balanced diet, you remove the possibility of vitamin deficiencies which can play a significant role in your ataxia symptoms.
Can I treat Ataxia myself?
Self-diagnosis of ataxia is possible, but it’s important to be aware of when ataxia should be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider. In most cases, ataxia symptoms can be treated with rest and relaxation. However, there are some cases where ataxia requires medical attention.
If you experience ataxia symptoms and you’re not sure whether you should seek medical help, consult your doctor. He or she can help you determine the best course of action for treating your ataxia.
If you have been diagnosed with a genetic disorder, the experience and expertise of your doctor are invaluable in helping you manage your condition. Your doctor will be able to provide you with information about the specific disorders you have and how it affects your body. He or she will also help you develop a treatment plan that meets your needs.
If you are pregnant and have any genetic disorders, your doctor will help you manage your condition and ensure that you receive the best care possible during your pregnancy. He or she can also provide support and advice to your family members.
Your doctor is an important resource for information and support when it comes to managing a genetic disorder.
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