Things like walking in a straight line, picking up a glass of water, or buttoning your shirt are usually things you are able to do without thought. Those things are a combination of having your brain, nerves, muscles, and consciousness working together in sync. When that coordination is affected, that person may have a neurological condition called ataxia. This condition adversely affects your balance, coordination, and even speech.

Ataxia is not a disease by itself. It is more of a condition of an already existing disorder of the nervous system. It can exist suddenly or be more of a gradual thing, depending on what is causing it. It is important to recognize these symptoms in the early stages so that you can get the adequate medical treatment that may relieve the condition and improve your long term quality of life.

What Is Ataxia?

Ataxia is an umbrella term for a collection of neurological conditions that cause a deficit in coordination for performing voluntary movements. It is primarily a condition of the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain that is responsible for balance and coordinated movement. Damaging the nerves or the spinal cord can also cause ataxia.

Someone may have ataxia if they have difficulty with balance, if they have difficulty with steady and deliberate movements of the body, or if they have difficulty with speech, swallowing, or eye movements.

What Causes Ataxia?

Ataxia has multiple causes, some of which are more significant than others. Determining what the cause is will drive the treatment, as the treatment is very dependent on the specifics of the cause of ataxia.

Stroke

A cerebellar stroke that is left untreated can cause loss of balance or coordination and thereby cause ataxia.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis affects the protective sheath that surrounds the nerve fibers. This affects the brain’s ability to fully communicate with the body and causes weak coordination and difficulty with walking.

Head Injuries

Falling and other accidents that cause injury to the brain can damage the parts of the brain that control coordination.

Vitamin Deficiencies

Deficiencies of some vitamins like B12 and E can affect nerves and create ataxia.

Genetic Conditions

Inherited disorders like Friedreich’s ataxia and spinocerebellar ataxias affect balance and coordination and can worsen over time.

Alcohol and Some Medications

Coordination issues can be caused by the excessive use of alcohol and some medications that affect the cerebellum.

Symptoms of Ataxia

Symptoms of ataxia differ based on the cause and severity of the condition.

Some of the more frequent symptoms of ataxia are:

• Having difficulty with balance
• Walking in a wobbly fashion or with a wide gait
• Falling frequently
• Having poor coordination of the arms and/or hands
• Difficulty with writing or using other small tools
• Speech that has a slow and or slurred quality
• Having difficulty with swallowing
• Abnormal movements of the eyes
• Having tremors when moving
• Difficulty with performing daily activities

Some people may also experience fatigue and or dizziness depending on the condition that affects the nerves.

How Is Ataxia Diagnosed?

Since ataxia can be caused by many different conditions a thorough medical evaluation is needed.

A neurologist may advise the following:

• Evaluate medical history
• Perform physical and neurological exams
• Assess balance and coordination
• Conduct blood work
• Order a MRI or CT of brain
• Consider genetic testing
• Elect a nerve conduction study

These assist the doctor in deciding how best to treat you.

Ataxia Treatment

Ataxia treatment is aetiology dependent. Ataxia of certain causes may improve with treatment of the underlying condition. Alternatively, other causes may warrant symptom management with a focus on the patient’s quality of life.

The Underlying Cause

Ataxia caused by aberrant drug use or infections may improve with correction of the cause. Conditions of ataxia such as Multiple Sclerosis necessitate disease-modifying therapies.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is used to augment the patient’s ataxia by improving strength and coordination and reducing the risk of falls.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy offers the assistance of adaptive devices used to accomplish the activities of daily living.

Speech and Swallowing Therapy

Speech and Swallowing Therapy aids the patient in improving safer swallowing and speech.

Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle can aid the patient’s quality of life by helping the patient to avoid ataxogenic causes.

When Should You See a Neurologist?

You should see a doctor if you have trouble balancing, walking, speaking, or moving. If these symptoms develop along with weakness, numbness, or changes in your vision, you should go to the hospital immediately. These may be signs of a stroke.

These problems may help a doctor identify a disorder that is still in its early stages which is still treatable.

Conclusion

Ataxia is a neurological disorder that causes trouble with balancing, moving, and coordinating. Ataxia can be caused by many things such as strokes, multiple sclerosis, vitamin deficiencies, head injuries, and genetic conditions. Even though symptoms make it hard to perform daily tasks, early diagnosis with the right treatment can improve movement and make daily life easier.

At Royal Care Neurosciences, we have the top neurologists who use the newest technologies to evaluate and develop a personalized treatment plan for patients with ataxia and other neurological disorders.

FAQs

1. Is ataxia a disease or a symptom?

Ataxia is a symptom that there is a neurological disorder. It is important to identify the disorder to develop the correct treatment plan.

2. Can ataxia be treated?

If ataxia is caused by another medical disorder, the disorder can be treated to help with ataxia. Other treatments can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

3. When is it necessary to get help for ataxia?

You should make an appointment with a neurologist if you notice problems with your balance that get worse. The same goes for poor coordination, frequent falls, and speech that appears more slurred. All of these are signs you are developing ataxia, and the onset of any of these should be treated as an emergency to seek help.