What causes HEREDITARY ATAXIA?
The HEREDITARY ATAXIAS are genetic. The various abnormal genes that cause ATAXIA have in common that they make abnormal proteins that affect nerve cells, primarily in the cerebellum (and other parts of the brain) and the spinal cord. (The details are different for the different diseases.) Eventually the affected nerve cells begin to function poorly and ultimately to degenerate. As the disease progresses, muscles become less and less responsive to commands from the brain, causing coordination problems to become more pronounced. There are many genetic causes of HEREDITARY ATAXIA. Over 300 different genetic diseases or “syndromes” have been described that include ATAXIA as a symptom.
