Ataxia overview
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Ataxia Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Ataxia overview On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Ataxia overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Ataxia (from Greek α- [used as a negative prefix] + -τάξις [order], meaning "lack of order") is a neurological sign and symptom consisting of gross incoordination of muscle movements. [1] Ataxia is an aspecific clinical manifestation implying dysfunction of parts of the nervous system that coordinate movement, such as the cerebellum. Several possible causes exist for these patterns of neurological dysfunction. The term "dystaxia" is rarely used as a synonym.
Risk Factors
Those who have a family history of inherited ataxia (e.g Friedreich's ataxia) may be at higher risk for developing ataxia. Genetic testing may be recommended in these cases.