As founder and chief medical officer of Advanced NeuroCare, LLC, Dr. Jonathan Fellus provides a full range of brain injury rehabilitation services. Informing his clinical practice, Dr. Jonathan Fellus has an in-depth understanding of conditions such as ataxia.
A degenerative condition, ataxia impacts coordination, speech, and balance. Common symptoms include difficulties walking, speaking, and swallowing, as well as vision impairment. It also manifests in loss of control during high-level tasks such as writing. This usually relates to damage to the cerebellum, but it can also be caused by dysfunction in other regions of the nervous system.
Ataxia can be part of an underlying condition such as MS, or can be caused by a brain injury, lack of oxygen to the brain, or long-term, excessive alcohol consumption. Acquired ataxia develops following a stroke, brain tumor, or multiple sclerosis. By contrast, hereditary ataxia (such as Friedreich's ataxia) involves genetics and tends to progress over the years. Idiopathic, late-onset cerebellar ataxia cases involve progressive brain damage for unknown reasons.
In a piece published on Quora, Dr. Fellus explains that ataxia is not directly life threatening, but that related issues such as lack of coordination can have serious consequences. He also notes that the genetic form of the disease can result in ataxia at a young age and complications can shorten one’s life span.
A degenerative condition, ataxia impacts coordination, speech, and balance. Common symptoms include difficulties walking, speaking, and swallowing, as well as vision impairment. It also manifests in loss of control during high-level tasks such as writing. This usually relates to damage to the cerebellum, but it can also be caused by dysfunction in other regions of the nervous system.
Ataxia can be part of an underlying condition such as MS, or can be caused by a brain injury, lack of oxygen to the brain, or long-term, excessive alcohol consumption. Acquired ataxia develops following a stroke, brain tumor, or multiple sclerosis. By contrast, hereditary ataxia (such as Friedreich's ataxia) involves genetics and tends to progress over the years. Idiopathic, late-onset cerebellar ataxia cases involve progressive brain damage for unknown reasons.
In a piece published on Quora, Dr. Fellus explains that ataxia is not directly life threatening, but that related issues such as lack of coordination can have serious consequences. He also notes that the genetic form of the disease can result in ataxia at a young age and complications can shorten one’s life span.
