What Is Ataxia?
Ataxia refers to a lack of coordination. Muscle control in the arms and legs is lost in those with ataxia, which can cause problems with voluntary motions such as balance, coordination, and walking. Ataxia is a symptom of an underlying illness that affects multiple movements such as the movement of fingers, arms, hands, legs, body, and voice. It can also cause problems with speech, eye movement, and swallowing.
What Causes Ataxia?
Ataxia is caused by damage, degeneration, or loss of nerve cells in the cerebellum, the region of the brain that controls muscular coordination. The cerebellum is made up of two folds of tissue near the brainstem at the base of the brain, and this part of the brain is responsible for balance, eye movements, swallowing, and communication.
Ataxia can be caused by diseases that affect the spinal cord and peripheral nerves that connect the cerebellum to the muscles. The following are some of the causes of ataxia:
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External factors such as trauma, vitamin deficiencies, alcohol or drug exposure, infections, malignancies, autoimmune diseases, thyroid problems, and stroke can cause acquired ataxia.
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Genetic ataxia is caused by a defective gene that is passed down through the generations. A dominant gene received from one parent (autosomal dominant disease) or a recessive gene from each parent can cause genetic ataxia (autosomal recessive disorder). It is possible that neither parent has the condition (silent mutation) in the latter scenario; therefore, there is no evident family history.
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Idiopathic ataxia is when medical professionals are unable to determine any genetic mutation, illness, injury, or other causes.
What Are the Different Types of Ataxia?
Ataxia comes in a variety of forms. The classification is determined by the symptoms and the cause of their emergence. Knowing the type can assist doctors in assessing the severity of the problem and developing a treatment plan.
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Friedreich's Ataxia: The most frequent type of hereditary ataxia is Friedreich's ataxia. People with Friedreich's ataxia have tight muscles and gradually lose strength and feeling in their arms and legs, in addition to severe movement issues. This type of ataxia is frequently associated with a heart disease that weakens the heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). It usually appears between the ages of 5 and 15.
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Ataxia Telangiectasia: It is an inherited disorder also known as Louis-Bar Syndrome. It is more common in newborns and young children. The presence of enlarged (dilated) blood vessels known as telangiectasias in the eyes and on the skin of the face is a common symptom of this form of ataxia. Symptoms of ataxia-telangiectasia in children include difficulty walking, synchronizing motions, gazing from side to side, and difficulty communicating. Ataxia-telangiectasia can weaken the immune system. Other ailments, including infections and malignancies, are more common in people with the syndrome.
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Multiple System Atrophy: It is a type of parkinsonism that affects movement and the part of your nervous system that controls involuntary body processes (autonomic nervous system). Blood pressure regulation and urine control are examples of these functions. Multiple system atrophy is characterized by difficulties in coordinating movements, a quick drop in blood pressure when you stand up, difficulty urinating, and, in men, erectile dysfunction. It is more common in people over the age of 30. However, 54 years is the average age at which symptoms appear.
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Episodic Ataxia: People with episodic ataxia experience periodic mobility and balance problems. These episodes can occur several times each day or perhaps once or twice per year. A person can acquire episodic ataxia at any age. Stress, medications, alcohol, illness, and physical activity are all factors that contribute to it. There are seven varieties of episodic ataxia, each with its own set of symptoms, such as dizziness, headaches, hazy vision, nausea, and vomiting, in addition to trouble moving.
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Spinocerebellar Ataxia: Spinocerebellar ataxia is genetic ataxia that is divided into hundreds of different varieties based on the accompanying features other than ataxia. Aside from the usual movement and balance issues, patients with ataxia often develop weakness and lack of sensation, and some forms cause problems with eye movements. Spinocerebellar ataxia symptoms might appear at any age. However, it usually takes longer to progress than other types of ataxia.
What Are the Symptoms of Ataxia?
Ataxia can develop gradually or appear suddenly. Ataxia is a symptom of a variety of neurological conditions that can lead to:
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Impaired balance and a tendency to stumble.
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Difficulty in executing fine motor skills, such as eating, writing, or buttoning a shirt.
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Slurred speech.
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Nystagmus, which means involuntary back-and-forth eye motions and other vision problems.
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Muscle tremors.
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Difficulty in swallowing.
How Is Ataxia Diagnosed?
When diagnosing ataxia, doctors investigate a variety of factors. To identify if you have ataxia and, if so, what type, a physical examination is performed by a medical professional. Medical and family history is also obtained to identify the disease.
Other tests may be used by doctors to determine the etiology and classification of ataxia. These are some of them:
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): An MRI is a type of imaging exam that allows doctors to see your brain in order to figure out what is causing your ataxia.
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Blood Tests: Help establish whether the condition is caused by an underlying cause such as a stroke, tumor, or infection.
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Genetic Testing: It can help confirm hereditary ataxia.
What Is the Treatment for Ataxia?
Hereditary ataxia has no known cure. However, some therapies can help with the symptoms. The treatment is determined by the symptoms of each individual, and the goal of treatment is to enhance comfort and mobility by managing symptoms. If ataxia is caused by a stroke, a deficiency in vitamins, or exposure to a harmful substance or toxin, treatment is tailored to those conditions.
The use of supplementary adaptive equipment to allow the person to keep as much independence as possible is the most common treatment for loss of coordination or imbalance. A cane, crutches, walker, or wheelchair are examples of these devices. Physical therapy, speech therapy, and medications for symptoms like tremors, stiffness, depression, spasticity, and sleep difficulties may all be beneficial.
Conclusion:
People with ataxia have a wide range of outcomes depending on the type and underlying etiology. The majority of patients with ataxia experience symptoms that can degrade over time. In order to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life, treatment is required. In some cases, doctors can utilize medicine to treat the underlying cause of ataxia. Their symptoms may improve over time if they receive adequate treatment. The hunt for a cure for ataxia is still ongoing.
