What is ataxia

What causes ataxia? Read more about the causes of ataxia. How ataxia is treated 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 occupational therapy to help you cope with the day-to-day problems medication to control muscle, bladder, heart and eye problems In a few cases, it's possible to improve ataxia or stop it getting worse by treating the underlying cause.

Read more about treating ataxia. Children with ataxia-telangiectasia are at high risk of developing cancer, particularly leukemia or lymphoma. Most people with the disease need a wheelchair by their teens and die before age 30, usually of cancer or lung pulmonary disease. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Cerebellum and brainstem Open pop-up dialog box Close. Cerebellum and brainstem Persistent ataxia usually results from damage to the part of your brain that controls muscle coordination cerebellum.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Autosomal dominant inheritance pattern Open pop-up dialog box Close. Autosomal dominant inheritance pattern In an autosomal dominant disorder, the mutated gene is a dominant gene located on one of the nonsex chromosomes autosomes. Autosomal recessive inheritance pattern Open pop-up dialog box Close. Autosomal recessive inheritance pattern To have an autosomal recessive disorder, you inherit two mutated genes, one from each parent.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed Dec. Todd PK. Overview of cerebellar ataxias in adults. Classification of ataxia. National Ataxia Foundation. Ataxia telangiectasia. National Cancer Institute. Cerebellar ataxia. Mayo Clinic; Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Is Ataxia? Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M. What is it? There are several different types of ataxia, and each type has a different cause.

What exactly is ataxia? Types and causes. What are the symptoms of ataxia? How is it diagnosed? How is ataxia treated? The bottom line. Read this next. Myasthenia Gravis. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. What Is Hypotonia? Physical therapy, speech therapy, and medicines to help symptoms, such as tremor, stiffness, depression, spasticity, and sleep disorders may also help. Research is being done on cerebellar and spinocerebellar degeneration, including work aimed at finding the cause s of ataxias and ways to treat, cure, and ultimately prevent them.

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. Some of the most difficult symptoms require management with continuous positive airway pressure devices CPAP , tracheostomy, or a feeding tube. Falling or becoming chair- or bed-bound may lead to other life threatening complications, such as injury, pressure sores, infection, and blood clots.

Dementia, behavioral problems, and depression may influence compliance and care. Other complications of ataxia may include:. Each person may experience symptoms differently. Contact your provider if you have any of the following symptoms:. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. The symptom of ataxia can be caused by many things including: Stroke Multiple sclerosis Tumors Alcoholism Nerve damage Metabolic disorders Vitamin deficiencies In these cases, treating the condition that caused ataxia may improve it.

While the term ataxia usually describes symptoms, it also describes a group of specific degenerative diseases of the central nervous system called the hereditary and sporadic ataxias: Hereditary ataxias. This type is caused by a defect in a gene that a person is born with. Hereditary ataxias are degenerative disorders that may progress over a number of years. How severe the disability depends on the type of ataxia, the age of onset of symptoms, and other factors.

Certain types of hereditary ataxias start in childhood while others start in the adult years.