Ataxia

The term ataxia means without coordination. The ataxia definition in medical terms is complicated because it’s used two different ways. In one way, ataxia is used to define a common set of symptoms that reflect a lack of coordination in movement. Another way it’s used is to refer to a rare group of genetic conditions that cause these symptoms.

Your Advocate Health Care doctor will help you understand what’s going on with your health and determine whether you have such symptoms or a condition.

Ataxia symptoms

Symptoms of ataxia reflect a lack of coordination in various parts of the body. Some of the most common symptoms are:

• Eye movement abnormalities
• Slurred speech
• Trouble eating and swallowing
• Heart problems
• Tremors
• Problems with fine motor skills
• Difficulty walking (gait abnormalities)

You can have ataxia symptoms at any age. They’re different from person to person. Complications from some types can be debilitating and even life-threatening.

Three types of ataxia

Your provider will classify ataxia based on the area of the nervous system that it affects and the symptoms it causes. The three types of ataxia include:

• Cerebellar ataxia: When ataxia affects the part of the brain called the cerebellum, it’s called cerebellar ataxia. Symptoms are related to balance and coordination, such as dizziness, fatigue, headaches and trouble walking. It’s the most common category of ataxia.
• Sensory ataxia: When you have damage to the nerves in your spinal cord or peripheral nervous system, you may have sensory ataxia. You’ll have trouble sensing where your body is in relation to the ground. You may be unsteady when walking in low light conditions or tend to stomp your feet when you walk.
• Vestibular ataxia: This is when ataxia affects your inner ear and ear canals and dulls your sense of balance and ability to sense movements of your head. You may have dizziness, blurred vision and trouble with walking in a straight line.

Genetic ataxia

Genetic ataxia conditions are rare and are caused by mutations of several types of genes. These faulty genes cause defective proteins to be produced and those proteins allow nerve cell degeneration in the brain, spine or peripheral nerves. After nerve cells are damaged, muscles gradually become weaker because messages that normally come from the brain through the nerves aren’t delivered properly.

There are two types of genetic ataxia:

• Hereditary ataxia: This is when gene mutations are inherited from parents.
• Sporadic ataxia: This is when gene mutations happen randomly sometime after birth.

Genetic testing can help verify whether ataxia symptoms are related to any genes.

Examples of genetic ataxia conditions

Spinocerebellar ataxia is one type of genetic ataxia for which more than 40 genes have been identified. Symptoms vary depending on which gene is involved, and different types can be identified as cerebellar, sensory, vestibular or some combination. So even though they’re grouped together, they’re diverse in how they affect each individual.

Ataxia telangiectasia is a genetic ataxia that affects children. Along with delayed motor skill development, they may develop spider veins in the corners of their eyes or on their ears and cheeks. Having ataxia telangiectasia also increases the chances of some diseases, including cancer.

Acquired ataxia

When ataxia symptoms are caused by an underlying condition it’s called acquired ataxia, which is much more common than genetic ataxia. Some of the conditions that may cause ataxia symptoms are:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke
• Alcohol or drug use
• Brain tumors
• Metabolic disorders
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Head injuries
• Severe infection of the brain
• Multiple system atrophy (MSA)

Ataxia symptoms caused by these conditions may get better if the underlying condition is cured or gets better.

Can a person recover from ataxia?

When ataxia symptoms happen because of another condition that’s curable, the damage to your nerves can be stopped from progressing, but not reversed. For instance, if your ataxia happened because of a vitamin deficiency, taking supplements or eating more foods that contain the vitamin can often make the ataxia symptoms better.

When your ataxia symptoms are caused by a hereditary or sporadic genetic ataxia condition, treatment can help alleviate symptoms, but your ataxia condition and damage to your nervous system won’t be cured. Researchers are looking for a cure and better treatments for genetic ataxia conditions.

What's the best treatment for ataxia?

The best ataxia treatment approach for acquired ataxia is treating the disease causing the ataxia symptoms. For example, after a stroke or a head injury, treatments that help your brain recover will address your ataxia symptoms. If you have a brain tumor, surgery to remove the tumor or medications to treat the tumor are the best way to improve the ataxia symptoms.

When you have a genetic ataxia condition, your multidisciplinary care team will focus on treating the symptoms because there currently aren’t any treatments for the genetic causes of the symptoms. A variety of medications may be prescribed for individual symptoms.

Supportive ataxia treatments

Other treatments for both acquired ataxia and genetic ataxia may include.

• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy
• Behavioral health care for depression or anxiety
• Medical supervision to watch for heart, lung, spine, bone and muscle complications

People who have a genetic form of ataxia often need help with walking from devices like canes, braces, walkers, wheelchairs or scooters. An occupational therapist will help you choose which device works for you and may also recommend devices to use to help with cooking, personal hygiene tasks and other activities of daily living