Ataxia
Posted on 11/30/2011
a degenerative disorder affecting the brain, brainstem, or spinal cord. This can result in clumsiness, inaccuracy, instability, imbalance, tremor, or a lack of coordination while performing voluntary movements.
Movements are not smooth and may appear disjointed or jerky. Patients may fall down frequently due to an unsteady gait. Ataxia can also affect speech and movement of the eyes.
If a metabolic disorder can be identified as the underlying cause, specific treatment may be available in select cases. The cornerstone of treatment for ataxia of parkinsonism (or parkinsonism of any cause) is the use of oral L-DOPA. Other medications used to treat ataxia associated with parkinsonism (or parkinsonism of any cause) include anticholinergics, dopamine agonists, amantadine, selegiline, and entacapone. In children with ataxia, generally only anticholinergics are prescribed.
