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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Ataxia describes a lack of muscle coordination during voluntary movements, such as walking or picking up objects. A sign of an underlying condition, ataxia can affect your movements, your speech, your eye movements and your ability to swallow.
Persistent ataxia usually results from damage to your cerebellum — the part of your brain that controls muscle coordination. Many conditions may cause ataxia, including alcohol abuse, stroke, tumor, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis. It's also possible to inherit a defective gene that may cause one of many ataxia variants.
Treatment for ataxia depends on the underlying cause. Adaptive devices, such as walkers or canes, might help you maintain your independence despite your ataxia. You may also benefit from physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
- NINDS ataxias and cerebellar or spinocerebellar degeneration information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/ataxia/ataxia.htm. Accessed Dec. 29, 2008.
- NINDS Friedreich's ataxia information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/friedreichs_ataxia/friedreichs_ataxia.htm. Accessed Dec. 29, 2008.
- NINDS Ataxia telangiectasia information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/a_t/a-t.htm. Accessed Dec. 29, 2008.
- Opal P, et al. The spinocerebellar ataxias. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 5, 2009.
- NINDS paraneoplastic syndromes information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/paraneoplastic/paraneoplastic.htm. Accessed Dec. 29, 2008.
- Jen JC, et al. Primary episodic ataxias: Diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment. Brain. 2007;130:2484. Accessed Dec. 15, 2008.
- Ataxia telangiectasia: Fact sheet. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/ataxiaqa. Accessed Jan. 11, 2009.
- FA beginner's primer. Freidrich's Ataxia Research Alliance. http://www.curefa.org/primer.html. Accessed Jan. 11, 2009.
- Adult ataxia information for patients and caregivers. Worldwide education and awareness for movement disorders. http://www.wemove.org/ataxia/. Accessed Jan. 11, 2009.
