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Welcome to the Ataxia Foundation
What is Ataxia?
Ataxia is a neurological condition that affects muscle coordination, leading to difficulties with speech, movement, and balance. It is not a disease itself but rather a symptom of underlying conditions that impact the nervous system. People with ataxia may experience unsteady walking, slurred speech, and impaired coordination, which can vary in severity.
There are many types of ataxia, classified based on their cause and the part of the nervous system affected. Some forms are inherited, while others develop due to injury, infections, or other medical conditions. Understanding ataxia is essential for accurate diagnosis and management, as its effects can significantly impact daily life.
Cerebellar Ataxia
Cerebellar ataxia occurs due to damage or degeneration of the cerebellum or its neural pathways, leading to impaired coordination, balance, and eye movement control. Causes include stroke, multiple system atrophy, genetic conditions, tumors, chronic alcohol misuse, and cerebellar degeneration.
People with cerebellar ataxia frequently have unsteady, broad-based walking (gait ataxia) and uncoordinated limb movements (limb ataxia). Their speech may be slurred (dysarthria) or altered in pitch (dysphonia). They often experience dizziness, vertigo, and rapid, involuntary eye movements (nystagmus). Many struggle with postural stability (truncal instability) and accurate movement control (dysmetria), leading to overshooting or undershooting motions. Movement-induced tremors (intention tremor) may develop, and daily activities often become physically exhausting due to the increased effort required.
Sensory Ataxia
Sensory ataxia occurs when the sensory pathways or their neural connections are damaged, affecting proprioception, spatial awareness, and limb coordination. This can result from peripheral neuropathy, vitamin B12 deficiency, spinal cord lesions, multiple sclerosis, or posterior column dysfunction.
People with sensory ataxia often experience unsteady walking that worsens in low-light conditions or with closed eyes (gait ataxia). Their limb movements may become clumsy and uncoordinated (limb ataxia), and they may struggle to detect their limb position (loss of proprioception). Many show instability when standing with their eyes closed (positive Romberg sign) and have difficulty judging distances (dysmetria). Reflexes may be reduced or absent (hyporeflexia or areflexia), and they may experience numbness or tingling in the extremities (paresthesia).
Vestibular Ataxia
Vestibular ataxia arises from damage to the vestibular system or its neural pathways, impairing balance, spatial awareness, and eye coordination. It can be caused by vestibular neuritis, Meniere’s disease, stroke, brainstem lesions, or vestibulocerebellar dysfunction.
Individuals with vestibular ataxia commonly have unsteady walking that worsens with head movements (gait ataxia). They may experience a spinning sensation with nausea (vertigo) and involuntary eye movements (nystagmus). Some perceive stationary objects as moving (oscillopsia) and struggle with postural balance (postural instability). Many have impaired spatial orientation (spatial disorientation) and feel dizziness triggered by head motion (head motion sensitivity). If the inner ear is affected, additional symptoms like ear ringing (tinnitus) may occur.
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This page provides general medical information intended for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be applied to individual cases without consulting a qualified healthcare provider. Medical knowledge evolves over time, and the information presented here may not reflect the latest developments. Additionally, any external links or references included are for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement by the Ataxia Foundation.