Ataxia is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) that affects about 80% of people with the disease. If you have primary progressive or secondary progressive MS, you may be more likely to develop ataxia at some point. Many people with MS have only mild ataxia symptoms.
Cerebellum and brainstem
Ataxia usually results from damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle coordination (cerebellum) or its connections. Many conditions can cause ataxia, including alcohol misuse, stroke, tumor, brain degeneration, multiple sclerosis, certain medications and genetic disorders.
Estimates vary, but research suggests as many as four out of five people with MS will have ataxia to some degree, at some point. For most people, the symptom is relatively mild and doesn't have a major impact on their life. Treatment for ataxia depends on the cause.
Conditions that can cause acquired ataxia include stroke, multiple sclerosis, tumors, alcoholism, peripheral neuropathy, metabolic disorders, and vitamin deficiencies.
Ataxia is usually caused by damage to a part of the brain known as the cerebellum, but it can also be caused by damage to the spinal cord or other nerves. The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerves that runs down the spine and connects the brain to all other parts of the body.
People with the condition tend to have a shorter life expectancy than normal. Many people live until at least their 30s, and some can live into their 60s or beyond.
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.
An MRI can sometimes show shrinkage of the cerebellum and other brain structures in people with ataxia. It may also show other treatable findings, such as a blood clot or benign tumor. Lumbar puncture (spinal tap). In some cases of ataxia, this may be a helpful test.
episodic ataxia can often be controlled with a medication called acetazolamide and by avoiding triggers such as stress, alcohol and caffeine. acquired ataxia can sometimes be treated depending on the specific cause – for example, antibiotic or antiviral medication may help if it's caused by an infection.
Ataxia is a disorder of balance and coordination [1▪]. The commonest forms are cerebellar ataxia, in which the cerebellum and its afferent or efferent projections are affected, and afferent/sensory ataxia, in which the proprioceptive pathways are affected [1▪,2].
What is ataxia? Ataxia is the medical term for lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements. In MS this can be seen as clumsiness, unsteady gait, impaired eye and limb movements, and speech problems. In some cases, the lack of coordination is seen as tremor.
Around four out of five people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience ataxia. For most, it's relatively mild and short-term. Ataxia may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as fatigue, dizziness, spasticity, reduced strength, sensory or visual issues such as double vision.
In conclusion, topiramate may be a new therapeutic option to treat cerebellar tremor and ataxia in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Most people with a cerebellar ataxia are able to safely drive. It is the duty of someone who develops a cerebellar disorder to notify the road licensing authority in their state, to ensure that their driver's license is valid and that they are covered by their insurance.
Action. FDA has approved Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) as the first treatment for Friedreich's ataxia, a rare, inherited, degenerative disease that damages the nervous system, characterized by impaired coordination and walking.
Rapid progression of ataxia (within months) should prompt a search for underlying malignancy, including with serological testing for paraneoplastic antibodies. 4 A fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography study may be indicated, even if the CT scan of thorax, abdomen and pelvis is normal.
Ataxia patients may sometimes benefit by avoiding simple carbohydrates. What this means is to eliminate foods sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, sugar, and artificial sweetener; no or very small amounts of cookies, cakes, candies, pastries, white flour, and fruit juice.
Ataxia affects people of all ages. Age of symptom-onset can vary widely, from childhood to late-adulthood. Complications from the disease are serious and oftentimes debilitating. Some types of Ataxia can lead to an early death.
Genetic testing involves taking a sample of blood and testing the DNA in it for any genetic mutation known to cause ataxia. Currently, tests can detect the mutations responsible for Friedreich's ataxia, ataxia-telangiectasia and most of the spinocerebellar ataxias.
Patients with ataxia often report needing to “concentrate on” their movements. Cognitive and mood problems - In addition to motor dysfunction, patients with cerebellar degeneration may have cognitive and emotional difficulties. The cerebellum plays a role in some forms of thinking.
Symptoms typically begin between the ages of 5 and 15 years, although they sometimes appear after age 25. Neurological symptoms of Friedreich ataxia may include: Awkward, unsteady movements and impaired muscle coordination (ataxia) that worsens over time. Difficulty walking and poor balance (gait ataxia)
“The aerobic training group showed improvement in ataxia, which is the primary complaint of these patients.” With no available disease-modifying medications, balance training to improve motor skills and functional performance has been the mainstay of treatment.
Dementia occurs only in some forms of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), such as SCA1,1 SCA2, SCA3,2 and SCA12,3 developing in the latest stages of the disease.