Before you know if a loss of muscle coordination is caused by ataxia, you need to define the different types of this physical impairment. Sporadic ataxia, for instance, progresses very slowly and may be difficult to diagnose, especially if there...
An accurate diagnosis from a qualified physician is essential before choosing the right treatment options for ataxia. For instance, sensory ataxia affects the manner in which an individual perceives sensation and reacts to it. Vestibular ataxia...
Ataxia is not necessarily a disease or a diagnosis. It is a specific set of symptoms that may caused by either a genetic factor or a medical condition such as multiple sclerosis, alcoholism, stroke or head trauma. The most common symptom of ataxia...
Medical treatment of ataxia varies widely according to the causes of this neurological condition. There is no set protocol for dealing with the symptoms of ataxia, which include poor muscle coordination in the hands, arms and legs, slurred speech,...
Ataxia means "without coordination" and can affect functioning of the extremities, body, speech and eyes, according to the National Ataxia Foundation. Ataxia is a neuromuscular disorder affecting movement and balance, with symptoms including...
Alcoholism is a disease characterized by a craving for alcohol, a loss of control over drinking, physical dependence on alcohol and an increasing tolerance with a need to drink more and more to feel the "high" that alcohol causes. One of the side...
Spinocerebellar ataxia, or SCA, is an inherited brain function abnormality. SCA occurs in the cerebellum, the lower back part of the brain attached to the spinal cord. The disease primarily affects coordination of the hands and legs and most...
While ataxia can be caused by such conditions as alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, head injuries and stroke, the most common cause of this neurological condition is heredity. Ataxia is a recessive trait, and the onset of symptoms usually emerges in...
Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is a water-soluble B vitamin. It is important for the proper function of numerous enzymes, especially those involved in DNA metabolism. Low levels of vitamin B12 interfere with cellular functioning, causing many...
Cerebellar ataxia affects the nervous system by decreasing balance and coordination most typically in the trunk, arms and legs. There are acute, chronic progressive and recurrent forms of cerebellar ataxia all with similar symptoms and treatment....
Friedreich's ataxia is a progressive chromosomal disorder in which your nerve tissue breaks down, making it difficult or impossible--in the later stages of the disease--for your nerve cells to conduct impulses that help you move. Most people are...
Approximately one percent of the population carries the recessive gene mutation that causes Ataxia-Telangiectasia. Because of the rarity of the disease, which occurs in less than 100,000 individuals worldwide, there are no current screening...
Physical therapy is used to treat the muscle weakness and loss associated with Friedreich's ataxia, an inherited condition in which the nerves lose their ability to conduct impulses quickly and efficiently throughout your body. As a result of the...
Presently, there is no cure for children with Ataxia-Telangiectasia. The disease, which usually presents itself around the age of two, becomes increasingly worse over time and generally results in death by the time the child reaches his late teens...
A physical-therapy program can improve the mobility of Friedreich's ataxia patients and help them learn to manage everyday tasks, like getting around in their homes and going to school or work. Friedreich's ataxia is a genetic disorder in which...
Learn how acute cerebellar ataxia manifests itself physically so you can identify it in you or your child. Acute cerebellar ataxia is a sudden onset of uncoordinated muscle movement. It usually has the most effect on your trunk area (from your...
A child born with Ataxia-Telangiectasia will appear to develop normally for the first two years of life, but then delayed development of motor skills will become increasingly apparent. The child may begin to exhibit poor balance, impaired speech...
Friedreich's ataxia is an inherited muscular disorder that affects a patient's coordination. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) states that 1 in 50,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with Friedreich's...
Issues with balance and coordination are usually the first symptoms of Friedreich's ataxia that you'll notice. You may have trouble walking and controlling your arm and leg movements. Friedreich's ataxia is a disease that is inherited, and leads...
There is no known cure for Ataxia-Telangiectasia, so the goal of physicians is to prolong life by managing the disease's symptoms and keeping a watchful eye for additional illnesses that are commonly associated with A-T. Approximately 25 percent...
Going to regular physical therapy sessions can be an effective management tool for some people with acute cerebellar ataxia. This nervous-system disorder, which produces coordination difficulties and abnormal muscle movements, does not have a...
The simple chickenpox virus can lead to a frightening condition called acute cerebellar ataxia, especially in children under the age of 3. Weeks after recovering from a viral infection, your child may suddenly find it difficult to walk or speak....
There is no real way to prevent acute cerebellar ataxia, a condition marked by muscle-coordination difficulties, but keeping yourself and your loved ones current on immunizations may help reduce the risk of developing the disorder. Viral illnesses...
Vitamin B-12 is essential properly maintain your body's nervous system. When B-12 is no longer absorbed efficiently, or you begin a new radical diet that does not include enough foods with B-12, you may develop a deficiency. B-12 deficiency can...
Watch your child walk in order to spot symptoms of acute cerebellar ataxia. Look for a "drunken" walk with an unsteady gait. This nervous-system disorder produces uncoordinated muscle movements in the arms, legs and midsection area. Adults and...
Apraxia resulting from stroke can arrive in several forms and in many cases-accompanies aphasia--a language disorder. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke suggest that apraxia can affect the mouth, limbs, movements, speech,...
A movement disorder can leave your body debilitated, in chronic pain and you may be dependent on others. There is no cure for these diseases, but there are therapies that can help to alleviate symptoms. The American Association of Neurological...
Uncontrollable eye movements, medically known as nystagmus, is a condition in which the eyes move up and down, side to side or in a circular motion, says MedlinePlus. It states that these erratic eye movements are due to an abnormality in the...
Spinocerebellar degeneration, also called Friedreich's ataxia, is a genetic disease that causes multiple coordination problems and sensory loss. As parts of the brain and spinal cord are worn away, it becomes increasingly difficult to control your...
