Ataxia facts for kids
Ataxia is when someone has trouble with their balance, but it's not because their muscles are weak. It happens because of a problem with their nervous system.
Ataxia isn't a disease itself. It's a sign that something is wrong with the parts of the nervous system that help you stay balanced. There are three main types of ataxia, and many different things can cause them.
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Types of Ataxia
Cerebellar Ataxia
Cerebellar ataxia happens when there's a problem with your cerebellum. The cerebellum is a part of your brain that helps you with balance and moving smoothly. It controls actions like walking.
People with cerebellar ataxia might have trouble with things like:
- Controlling how strong or fast their muscles move.
- Getting their muscles to work together (this is called asynergy).
- Walking steadily (their gait might be unusual).
- Moving their eyes smoothly.
- Swallowing food or drinks (dysphagia).
- Speaking clearly (dysarthria).
- Judging how far away something is (dysmetria).
- Reacting quickly to things.
Sensory Ataxia
Sensory ataxia happens when you lose your sense of proprioception. Proprioception is knowing where your body parts are without looking. This type of ataxia is often caused by damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord carries information about your body's position to your brain. It can also be caused by problems in parts of the brain that get this information, like the cerebellum or thalamus.
Someone with sensory ataxia might:
- Have trouble walking. They might stomp their feet or hit their heels hard on the ground.
- Find their walking problems get much worse when they can't see well. For example, if they stand with their feet together and close their eyes, their balance might get much worse. Doctors call this a "positive Romberg's test."
Vestibular Ataxia
Vestibular ataxia is caused by problems with the vestibular system. This system is in your inner ear and is very important for your balance and movement.
Besides balance problems, people with vestibular ataxia might also feel:
- Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) and vomiting.
- Dizziness (feeling like you or the room is spinning).
What Causes Ataxia?
Many different things can cause ataxia. Experts often group these causes into three main types: acquired, genetic, and idiopathic.
Acquired Ataxia
Acquired ataxia means a person wasn't born with it. Something happened during their life that caused the ataxia.
Some common causes of acquired ataxia include:
- A stroke, a brain tumor, or a condition like multiple sclerosis. These can cause any type of ataxia, depending on where the problem is in the brain.
- Injuries to the spinal cord.
- Problems that harm the cerebellum, such as:
- Certain medications that can have side effects.
- Hypothyroidism (when your body doesn't make enough thyroid hormone).
- A head injury.
- Viral illnesses, like viral meningitis.
- Celiac disease.
- Mercury poisoning or radiation poisoning.
- Not having enough Vitamin B12 in the body.
Genetic Ataxia
Genetic ataxia is caused by disorders that you are born with. These disorders usually damage the cerebellum or spinal cord. In most cases, these types of ataxia tend to get worse over time.
Idiopathic Ataxia
When doctors say something is idiopathic, it means they cannot find a clear cause for it. Idiopathic ataxia often causes symptoms that come and go. Many scientists think these types of ataxia might be caused by a mix of things inside the body (like gene problems) and things outside the body (like a person's environment). Scientists are still doing a lot of research to understand these causes better.
How Is Ataxia Treated?
Ataxia can be treated, but the treatments usually don't make it go away completely. They often help manage the symptoms and make daily life easier.
Some common treatments for ataxia include:
- Medications.
- Physical therapy to help with movement and strength.
- Occupational therapy to help with daily tasks.
- Using tools like a cane or a walker to help with balance.
Sometimes, people with severe ataxia might need to use wheelchairs to get around.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Ataxia para niños
