Knowra Ataxia Ataxia Ataxia is impaired coordination of voluntary movement, often caused by dysfunction of the cerebellum or its connections. It can affect walking, limb movements, speech, or eye movements.
Cerebellum : A brain region that coordinates movement, balance, and motor learning. Damage here commonly disrupts the timing and accuracy of voluntary movements.
Gait : The pattern of walking, including its rhythm, balance, and coordination. A broad-based, unsteady gait is a frequent presentation of ataxia.
Friedreich ataxia : An inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by pathogenic variants affecting frataxin. It combines progressive incoordination with sensory and other neurological features.
Neurological examination : A structured assessment of nervous-system function using observation and clinical tests. It identifies the distribution and character of coordination deficits.
Dystaxia : A less commonly used term for impaired coordination of movement. It is sometimes used near-synonymously, while ataxia is the standard clinical term.
Proprioception : The sense of the position and movement of body parts. Loss of this sensory feedback can produce incoordination that worsens when vision is removed.
Nystagmus : Involuntary, repetitive eye movements that may be rhythmic or irregular. Abnormal eye movements can accompany cerebellar or vestibular ataxia.
Spinocerebellar ataxia : A group of inherited disorders causing progressive degeneration of cerebellar and related pathways. These disorders are prominent examples of progressive, genetically mediated ataxia.
Magnetic resonance imaging : An imaging method that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed internal images. Brain imaging can reveal structural causes such as stroke, tumor, or cerebellar degeneration.
Apraxia : Impaired ability to perform learned purposeful actions despite adequate strength and comprehension. Apraxia disrupts the planning or execution of learned actions, not coordination in the same sense.
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