title: Ataxia.
abstract: Ataxia is a disorder of balance and coordination resulted from dysfunctions involving cerebellum and its afferent and efferent connections. While a variety of disorders can cause secondary ataxias, the list of genetic causes of ataxias is growing longer. Genetic abnormalities may involve mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, abnormal mechanisms of DNA repair, possible protein misfolding, and abnormalities in cytoskeletal proteins. Few ataxias are fully treatable while hope for efficacious gene therapy and pharmacotherapy is emerging. A discussion of the ataxias is presented here with brief mention of acquired ataxias, and a greater focus on inherited ataxias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1149 South Newell Drive, L3-100, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Umar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1149 South Newell Drive, L3-100, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. Electronic address: tetsuo.ashizawa@neurology.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ashizawa
mesh_terms: D001259:Ataxia / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans
keywords: Ataxia; Autosomal dominant; Autosomal recessive; Diagnosis; Inherited; Mitochondrial; Sporadic; Treatment