Ataxia: Causes, symptoms and treatment

Ataxia is a neurological sign and symptom characterized by lack of coordination of muscle movement that is due to dysfunction of the parts of the nervous system, such as motor control of the cerebellum. Although the cause of the dysfunction varies from mutations in channels for potassium and/or calcium to progressive degeneration of cerebellar tissue-specific neurons, the neurological signs and symptoms of ataxia are similar. The treatment of ataxia and its effectiveness depend on the underlying cause, and it could be managed by pharmacological treatments and through physical therapy and occupational therapy. The treatment may ameliorate the signs of ataxia, but it is not likely to eliminate them entirely. In this book, the authors present current research in the study of the causes, symptoms and treatments on ataxia.