Ataxia Disease

Ataxia disease - Ataxia often occurs when parts of the nervous system that control movement are damaged. People with ataxia experience a failure of muscle control in their hands and feet, resulting in a lack of coordination or balance and gait disorders (Glucosamine / chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial).

Friedreich's ataxia is a disease that causes progressive damage to decline against the nervous system, causing gait disturbance and speech problems to heart disease. The disease is named after the physician Nicholas Friedreich, who first described the condition in 1980.

Ataxia is a disorder of coordination such as clumsy or awkward movements and is not solid, appears in many diseases and conditions.

Friedreich's ataxia is caused deterioration of nerve tissue in the spinal cord (spinal cord) and the nerves that control muscle movements of the arms and legs. Nerve becomes thinner and nerve cells lose the myelin fibers.

Friedreich's ataxia, although rare is the most frequent inherited ataxia and occurs in women and men with similar risk.

CAUSE

Most of the disorders that result in ataxia cause parts of the brain called the cerebellum (small brain) to deteriorate or atrophy. Sometimes the spinal cord (spinal cord) are also affected. Cerebellar degeneration and spinosereberal used to describe changes that occur in the human nervous system, but not a specific diagnosis. Cerebellar degeneration and spinosereberal have many causes.

SYMPTOMS

And time of onset of symptoms depends on the type of ataxia. In fact there are many variations within the same family with the same type of ataxia. Recessive disorders commonly cause symptoms that began in childhood compared to adulthood.

However, in recent years, since the available genetic tests, known as Friedreich's ataxia is taking place today in some cases. Dominant ataxia often occur at the age of 20 years to 30 years old or even older. Sometimes an individual may not show symptoms until the age of 60 years.

Usually, balance and coordination are affected first. The lack of coordination of the hands, arms and legs and speech are other common symptoms. Walking became increasingly difficult and marked by a walk by placing a foot farther away to compensate for poor balance.

Coordination of arm and hand disorders affects a person's ability to perform a good motion control such as writing and eating. Slow eye movements can be seen in some forms of ataxia. Over time, ataxia can affect speech and swallowing.

Ataxia is an inherited degenerative disorder that develops over several years. How severe and possibly lead to death depending on the type of ataxia, Onset age and other factors little understood at present. Respiratory complications can be fatal in people who? Bed bound? Or have severe problems swallowing.

Diagnosis

Friedreich's ataxia diagnosis based on clinical examination including medical history and through physical examination. Tests performed included:

* Electromyogram (EMG), which measures the electrical activity of muscle cells.
* Study the delivery of the nerve, which measures the speed of nerve stimulation continued.
* Electrocardiogram (EKG), which gives the chart pattern of electrical activity or heart rate
* Echocardiogram, which records the position and movement of the heart muscle.
* Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or computed tomography scan (CT) scan, which provides images of the brain and spinal cord.
* The tapping of the spine (spinal tap) to evaluate the cerebrospinal fluid.
Blood tests and urine tests to determine glucose levels rise.
* Genetic testing to identify genes that are affected.

TREATMENT

Along with many degenerative diseases of the nervous system, there is no cure or effective treatment for Friedreich's ataxia. After all, many of the symptoms and complications can be treated to help patients maintain optimal functioning as long as possible. Diabetes, if any, can be treated with diet and medications such as insulin and some heart diseases can be treated with medication.

Deformitis orthopedic problems such as foot and scoliosis can be treated with braces or surgery. Physical therapy may prolong the use of arms and legs. Researchers hope that advances in genetic understanding of Friedreich's ataxia may be a solution in the treatment.

PREVENTION

Genetically inherited diseases that cannot be prevented. However, many studies are being conducted to further understand this disease.