What is Spinocerebellar Ataxia?
Spinocerebellar ataxia is an inherited disease which causes the cerebellum to atrophy, leading to a variety of health problems. There are over 30 recognized kinds of spinocerebellar ataxia, and researchers uncover additional types periodically through the use of genetic testing. People with spinocerebellar ataxia can have this condition in a variety of degrees of severity, ranging from mild forms which allow someone to live a fairly normal life to severe forms which can cause early mortality.
Spinocerebellar ataxia is an inherited disease which causes the cerebellum to atrophy, leading to a variety of health problems. There are over 30 recognized kinds of spinocerebellar ataxia, and researchers uncover additional types periodically through the use of genetic testing. People with spinocerebellar ataxia can have this condition in a variety of degrees of severity, ranging from mild forms which allow someone to live a fairly normal life to severe forms which can cause early mortality. The key feature of the spinocerebellar ataxias is that they cause people to become ataxic, meaning that their gait is uncoordinated. Patients can also experience spasticity due to atrophy of the spine, along with speech and vision problems and difficulty coordinating the hands. The onset of spinocerebellar ataxia can happen at various ages, with many people developing symptoms in adulthood.
