What is Spinocerebellar Ataxia?
It is a genetic disease caused by either a recessive or dominant gene. SCA refers to a group of ataxias that are
● Known to be hereditary
● Cause harm to the cerebellum
The cerebellum is the part of the brain which maintains balance and controls movements.
A damaged cerebellum can lead to:
● Uncoordinated movements and gait
● Impaired hand-eye coordination
● Abnormal speech
Types of SCA
There are 40 types of SCA discovered so far. Each type is named SCA1, SCA2, and so on.
The numbers indicate the order in which they were discovered.
SCA3 is the most common type of Spinocerebellar Ataxia. It is also known as Machado-Joseph Disease.
Machado-Joseph Disease
This type of SCA leads to -
● Gradual progressive clumsiness in arms and legs
● Speech difficulties
● Dysphagia (swallowing troubles)
● Staggering or lurching gait
● Vision troubles (accompanied by bulging eyes or double vision)
● Lower limb spasticity
Symptoms of SCA
● Slurred speech
● Poor coordination of movement
● Inability to perform basic fine motor movements
● Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing)
● Unsteady gait
● Tendency to trip
● Rapid back-and-forth eye movements
Symptoms of SCA typically manifest after 18 years of age, and gradually worsen over the years.
Timely treatment can help stall the progression of the condition.
Causes of SCA
● Stroke
● Cerebral palsy
● Autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, etc
● Vitamin deficiency (specifically Vitamins E, B-12, thiamin)
● Side effects of medication (chemotherapy, sedatives, etc)
● Alcoholism
● Genetic factors
● Viral infections like chicken pox have been known to cause Ataxia, but it typically abates with time
● Head trauma
● Parkinson’s disease
Treatment and care
Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy
Speech therapy
● Coordination training
● Balance training
● Trunk stability training
● Trunk rehabilitation
● Core strengthening
● Locomotor exercises
● Activities for Daily Living (ADL)
● Handwriting training
● Hand function training
● Balance training
● Swallowing techniques
● Articulation techniques
● Pronunciation exercises
● Assistive communication devices
● Oral musculature
strengthening exercises
