Ataxia
Ataxia is a term for a group of neurological conditions that affect balance, coordination and speech.
Any part of the body can be affected by ataxia and it can affect people in different ways.
Symptoms
People with ataxia often find they're falling over more or can't walk in a straight line.
Other symptoms can include:
- becoming more clumsy
- slurred speech
- problems with swallowing which can cause choking or coughing
- tremors or shaking
- fatigue or tiredness
- problems with sight like blurred or jumpy vision caused by difficulty controlling eye movements
Some people experience mild symptoms like slight balance problems. Other people have more severe symptoms and need help to carry out everyday tasks.
Types of Ataxia
Some types of ataxia are inherited. This means they're caused by genes passed on by a parent (or parents) to their child. Other types of ataxia that are not inherited can be caused by different factors like brain damage, diet, or side effects from taking drugs.
Hereditary ataxia
Hereditary ataxia is caused by genes you've inherited from your parents. There are different types of hereditary ataxia.
There are two ways of ataxia being inherited.
Acquired ataxia
Acquired ataxia can develop during someone's life caused by something other than a gene mutation.
This type of ataxia can be caused by:
- conditions like stroke, haemorrhage or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- gluten intolerance
- severe head injury
- vitamin deficiency like vitamin E or vitamin B12 deficiency
- drinking too much alcohol over a long period of time (alcohol overuse)
- recreational inhalants (like nitrous oxide)
- bacterial brain infection like meningitis
- viral infection
- cerebral palsy
- multiple sclerosis
- an underactive thyroid
- cancer
- medication like benzodiazepines
It's possible for someone with acquired ataxia to reduce their symptoms (and sometimes stop them altogether) by making changes to their diet or lifestyle.
You should speak to your doctor before making changes to your diet.
Idiopathic
Idiopathic ataxia is a type of ataxia where the cause is not known. Around 50% of people with ataxia have idiopathic ataxia.
Gluten
People with gluten ataxia are sensitive to a protein in gluten which is found in wheat products. It's a type of sporadic idiopathic ataxia found in people with no family history of ataxia and no known cause.
Causes
In most cases, ataxia is caused by damage to the cerebellum (a part of the brain). It can also be caused by damage to the spinal cord or nerves.
The spinal cord is a long collection of nerves that runs down the spine connecting the brain to other parts of the body.
The cerebellum is at the base of the brain and controls:
- eye movements
- speech
- co-ordination of arms and legs
- balance
Diagnosing ataxia
It can be difficult to get a diagnosis of the specific type of ataxia because there are many conditions that can appear very similar.
A neurologist (doctor that specialises in conditions affecting the brain) might need to do a number of tests to give an accurate diagnosis and this can take some time.
If your symptoms suggest you've acquired ataxia because of a serious underlying condition, you'll likely be admitted to hospital. If not, you'll be referred to a neurologist for more tests.
Treatment for ataxia
There is no cure for ataxia. If the underlying cause of your ataxia is known, this can sometimes be treated which can help improve symptoms or stop your ataxia getting worse. There are treatments available to help with the symptoms.
Treating the underlying cause
It might be possible to improve your ataxia or stop it getting worse if the underlying cause is known and is treatable.
The underlying cause might be treatable if you have:
- ataxia with vitamin E deficiency as this can often be improved with vitamin E supplements
- episodic ataxia as it can often be improved by taking a medication called acetazolamide and by avoiding triggers like caffeine, stress and alcohol
- acquired ataxia as it can sometimes be treated if the specific cause is something like an infection where antibiotics or antiviral treatment might help
If acquired ataxia is caused by brain damage from a stroke or severe head injury, it might not be possible to treat the condition.
Treating the symptoms
There are treatments available to help with some of the symptoms.
Source: Scottish Government
Last updated:
17 April 2023