Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2015 Feb;33(1):225-48.
doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2014.09.004.

Ataxia

Umar Akbar  1 , Tetsuo Ashizawa  2
Affiliations
Review

Ataxia

Umar Akbar et al. Neurol Clin. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

Ataxia is a disorder of balance and coordination resulted from dysfunctions involving cerebellum and its afferent and efferent connections. While a variety of disorders can cause secondary ataxias, the list of genetic causes of ataxias is growing longer. Genetic abnormalities may involve mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, abnormal mechanisms of DNA repair, possible protein misfolding, and abnormalities in cytoskeletal proteins. Few ataxias are fully treatable while hope for efficacious gene therapy and pharmacotherapy is emerging. A discussion of the ataxias is presented here with brief mention of acquired ataxias, and a greater focus on inherited ataxias.

Keywords: Ataxia; Autosomal dominant; Autosomal recessive; Diagnosis; Inherited; Mitochondrial; Sporadic; Treatment.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Barnard RO, Campbell MJ, McDonald WI. Pathological findings in a case of hypothyroidism with ataxia. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry. 1971 Dec;34(6):755–760. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Jellinek EH, Kelly RE. Cerebellar syndrome in myxoedema. Lancet. 1960 Jul 30;2(7144):225–227. - PubMed
    1. Diener HC, Dichgans J, Bacher M, Guschlbauer B. Improvement of ataxia in alcoholic cerebellar atrophy through alcohol abstinence. Journal of neurology. 1984;231(5):258–262. - PubMed
    1. Gottlieb JA, Luce JK. Cerebellar ataxia with weekly 5-fluorouracil administration. Lancet. 1971 Jan 16;1(7690):138–139. - PubMed
    1. Sirven JI, Fife TD, Wingerchuk DM, Drazkowski JF. Second-generation antiepileptic drugs’ impact on balance: a meta-analysis. Mayo Clinic proceedings. 2007 Jan;82(1):40–47. - PubMed