What is ataxia?
Ataxia is a symptom, not a specific disease or diagnosis. Ataxia means clumsiness, or loss of coordination. Ataxia may affect the fingers and hands, the arms or legs, the body, speech or eye movements. This loss of coordination may be caused by a number of different medical or neurologic conditions; for this reason, it is important that a person with ataxia seek medical attention to determine the underlying cause of the symptom and to get the appropriate treatment.
Disease characteristics:
The hereditary ataxias are a group of genetic disorders characterized by slowly progressive incoordination of gait and often associated with poor coordination of hands, speech, and eye movements. Frequently, atrophy of the cerebellum occurs. The hereditary ataxias are categorized by mode of inheritance and causative gene or chromosomal locus.
GENERAL INFORMATION |
MEDICAL INFORMATION |
Dr Perlman Nutrition book - revised 5-7-09 |
Classifications |
Exercise |
Hereditary
Ataxia Overview (GeneClinics) |
Travel |
Are you little confused by all the talk about DNA and genes? Try our animated tour |
Ataxia
information cards |
Dominant
Ataxias (SCA's, MJD, EA1-4, ADSA, ...) |
Walking
Sticks and Canes |
Recessive
Ataxias (FA, ARSA's, AT, AOA1&2, SCA8, ...) |
Wheeled
Walking aids |
Other
Ataxias and related disorders (OPCA, MSA, SDS, ...) |
Wheelchairs & Scooters |
Neurological
Symptoms related to ataxia |
Transfer
aids and lifts |
Glossary
(A compilation of basic terms somehow relating to
ataxia) |
Disability
Equipment Suppliers, Products and
Resources |
Research
Articles & Studies |
Cars,
Vans & Vehicle Conversions |
Ataxia
Research Centres |
Care
giving |
General
Ataxia Research Timeline |
Fatigue |
Publications |
ABLEDATA
database |
Gene
Therapy: Information & Centres |
Glaxo
Neurological Centre |
Genetic
testing: Information & Centres |
|
Various
Ataxia Information Pamphlets |
|
Ataxia Clinics (North America) |
Not
sure where to look? Try looking at one of the
classification sites below first.
Classifications
|