What Parts of the Brain Are Affected by Friedreichs Ataxia?
Friedreich’s ataxia is an inherited muscular disorder that affects a patient’s coordination. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) states that 1 in 50,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia. The age of onset is between 5 and 15, and both men and women can have the disorder. Friedreich’s ataxia is caused by an abnormal gene, which affects normal communication in the cerebellum, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Parts of the brain that affect thinking or memory are not affected by Friedreich’s ataxia.
