Can I catch Friedreichs Ataxia from Keith just like I can catch a cold from another person?
No. Keith inherited this disorder in the same way you inherit blue or brown eyes or brown, blonde or red hair. He can not pass it on to you. Can Keith take any medication to cure Friedreich’s Ataxia? No. There is no pill that will cure Keith. What will happen to Keith? Over the next ten years Keith will gradually lose his physical capabilities to walk, run and write. The good news is that Keith will not lose his mental capabilities. His brain power will remain the same! He’ll be the same kid you’ve always known. Will there ever be a cure? Someday…maybe 5 or 10 years. Something will definitely come along to help Keith. Our body is like a big and difficult jigsaw puzzle. The Human Genome Project is a huge research program which is putting together our genetic puzzle pieces to see how our body functions. Some of this research has already led to some promising discoveries for those people with Friedreich’s Ataxia. Scientists already know that Chromosome 9 is where the Friedreich’s Ataxia
