What is episodic ataxia?
Episodic ataxia is a condition in which a person experiences attacks that affect their coordination, balance and speech.
What causes episodic ataxia?
Episodic ataxia is hereditary and is caused by a faulty gene that results in damage to a part of the brain known as the cerebellum or the spinal cord.
It is autosomal dominant, meaning the condition can develop if a person inherits a single faulty gene from one of their parents.
What are the symptoms of episodic ataxia?
The main symptom of episodic ataxia is attacks that affect a person’s coordination, balance and speech.
These attacks usually begin in the teenage years and can last from minutes to hours.
They may involve:
- Issues with balance and coordination.
- Dysarthria which involves slurred, slow and unclear speech.
- Muscle spasms.
- Involuntary eye movements.
- Vertigo.
- Migraines.
- Tinnitus.
