Treatment Options For Spinocerebellar Ataxia

Spinocerebellar ataxia is a group of genetically inherited movement disorders that are the result of degenerative alterations in the spinal cord and section of the brain responsible for an individual's movement control. Spinocerebellar ataxia is caused by genetic mutation where there is a greater number than normal of trinucleotide repeat expansions in the DNA. Symptoms seen in spinocerebellar ataxia include balance and coordination issues, uncoordinated walk, abnormal speech, vision issues, problems with processing information, challenges with learning, memory problems, involuntary eye movements, and poor hand-eye coordination. When an individual is suspected of having spinocerebellar ataxia, genetic testing is performed to identify any genetic mutations associated with the group of disorders. Imaging studies such as MRI scans and CT scans may also be used in the diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia.