Ataxia

UT Southwestern Medical Center’s movement disorder experts are dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ataxia and its associated neurological diseases and syndromes.

Our physicians evaluate and treat hundreds of patients every year to help them prevent and manage complications that ataxia can cause.

What Are the Symptoms of Ataxia?

People with ataxia experience difficulty with coordination, such as problems using their fingers, hands, arms, or legs; walking; speaking; or moving their eyes.

Ataxia can develop as a result of damage to cells in the cerebellum over time, or it can come on suddenly. The condition can cause problems throughout the body such as:

• Poor coordination
• Unsteady gait or walk, or a tendency to stumble
• Difficulty with fine motor tasks, such as eating, writing, fastening buttons, or typing
• Difficulty with speech or swallowing
• Blurred or double vision
• Changes in behavior or personality

How Is Ataxia Diagnosed?

Because ataxia isn’t a single disease, finding the cause can be challenging. We diagnose ataxia based on a person's medical and family history, along with a complete neurological examination to determine if there are signs of cerebellar disease.

An evaluation for ataxia usually includes testing for:

• Jerky eye movements or eyes that overshoot their target
• Lack of coordination of movements and difficulty walking
• Dysmetria, an inability to correctly judge distance

Upon completion of the neurological exam, we might use any of the following tests to determine the cause of ataxia:

• Brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with or without contrast
• Blood tests
• Full-body computed tomography (CT) scan to look for cancers elsewhere that can indirectly affect the cerebellum
• Spinal tap to look for inflammation or infection of the cerebellum
• Nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) to look for neuropathy
• Evaluations by sleep, pulmonary, urology, and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists
• Dopamine transporter scan, an imaging technology that uses small amounts of a radioactive drug to help determine how much dopamine is available in a person's brain
• Autonomic studies
• Genetic testing

How Is Ataxia Treated?

UT Southwestern Medical Center experts are fellowship-trained in movement disorders and specialize in leading-edge care to treat ataxia.

Based on our evaluation, we work with patients to develop a care plan that is specific to the cause of their type of ataxia. After treatment begins, patients have follow-up appointments with their neurologist every four to six months to monitor progress and adjust treatment as needed.

Care plans might include one or more of the following:

• Medication: Medication can ease symptoms by treating the condition that caused the ataxia. There isn’t one medication that treats all ataxias; the treatment depends on the cause and type of ataxia.
• Swallowing and speech assessment and therapy: A speech-language therapist can help with slurred speech and swallowing problems ­– two of the most common symptoms of ataxia.
• Ophthalmological evaluation: An ophthalmologist can provide solutions for blurred vision.
• Genetic counseling: Genetic testing and counseling are available for people with hereditary ataxia and their family members. Results of genetic testing can help guide family planning for people with hereditary ataxia who are considering starting a family.
• Physical therapy: People with progressive ataxias often benefit from rehabilitation and exercise to stabilize balance and minimize injury from falls. UT Southwestern’s physical therapists are specifically trained to help patients with ataxia improve their ability to stand, walk, and function independently for as long as possible.