Ataxia: Symptoms, Causes and Management

Ataxia is a term used to refer to a group of neurological diseases that are characterized by a lack of voluntary muscle coordination, movements, balance and speech. It indicates damage to one or more parts of the neurological system that controls movement, such as the cerebellum part of the brain. There are three major types of ataxia, namely, cerebellar, sensory, and vestibular ataxia. The most common symptoms of this disease are speech changes, difficulty in walking, lack of coordination in eye movements, tremors, heart problems, and problems while eating and swallowing. Ataxia may be caused due to focal lesions, exogenous substances, radiation poisoning or hypothyroidism. Pharmacological treatments along with physical therapy and occupational therapy can help reduce the disability caused due to this disease. A patient's functionality and progress can be evaluated using certain assessment tools such as imaging tests, blood tests, lumbar puncture and genetic testing. This book outlines the symptoms, causes and management of ataxia in detail. The topics included herein are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to readers. The extensive content of this book will provide the readers with a thorough understanding of the topic.