What is ataxia?
The word “ataxia” means “absence or loss of order.” Ataxia does not refer to a specific disease or disorder. Rather, it is a set of symptoms caused by a dysfunction in the cerebellum and the connections that transfer information to and from the cerebellum. People who have ataxia have uncontrolled, uncoordinated movements in the way they walk, move their arms or eyes, or talk.
Ataxia can be caused by diseases such as multiple sclerosis, strokes, brain tumors, heat stroke, infections, or harmful doses of drugs or chemicals. These are called sporadic or non-genetic ataxias. Some ataxias are hereditary.
The word ataxia itself does not denote a specific disease or disorder that affects all people in the same way. Ataxia, regardless of cause, affects every person differently. Even for inherited ataxias, the condition may affect various parts of the body in different ways, and may vary in severity. For example, many family members may be afflicted with the same type of inherited ataxia, but they may all have unique symptoms and/or severities.
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