What is Friedreich ataxia?
Friedreich ataxia is a genetic condition that damages nerve tissue, causing a loss of muscle coordination (ataxia) that worsens over time. Other characteristics of this condition include the gradual loss of strength and sensation in the arms and legs, muscle stiffness (spasticity) in the limbs, and impaired speech. Friedreich ataxia may also affect heart function. Typically, signs and symptoms of Friedreich ataxia first appear in childhood or the early teens. Poor balance when walking and slurred speech are often the initial symptoms. About 25 percent of cases, however, occur after age 25. These cases are classified as late-onset Friedreich ataxia (LOFA), with onset between 26 and 39 years, or very late-onset Friedreich ataxia (VLOFA), which begins at age 40 or older.
