Facts about the ataxias

The cerebellar ataxias are a group of neurological disorders, many of which are inherited.
Although uncommon, the ataxias are more frequent than previously thought. 10,000 adults in the UK have ataxia. The number of children and young people with ataxia is still not yet known.
There is large variation in the severity of the different types.
Some cerebellar ataxias are very serious conditions that progressively get worse. The rate of progression varies between individuals.
Initial symptoms typically include poor co-ordination of the arms and legs and slurred speech.
As the ataxia progresses people can lose the ability to walk and do other activities, sometimes leading to total physical dependency. There may be problems with vision, hearing and swallowing.
Symptoms begin at different ages for different types of ataxia and this also varies between individuals. Some ataxias are diagnosed in childhood, others later in life.

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