My sister and cousin both have
Ataxia. The word “ataxia,” comes from the Greek word, “a taxis”
meaning “without order or incoordination”. Ataxia is a degenerative disease of the nervous
system. Many symptoms of Ataxia mimic those of being drunk, such as slurred speech, stumbling, falling, and incoordination. These symptoms are caused by damage to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that is responsible for coordinating movement.
Ataxia treatment involves a combination of medication to treat symptoms and therapy to improve quality of life. People affected by Ataxia may experience problems with using their fingers and hands, arms, legs, walking, speaking or moving their eyes.
Ataxia affects people of all ages. Age of symptom onset can vary widely, from childhood to late adulthood.
Our family has been a Proud Supporter of NAF (National Ataxia Foundation) for many years.
NAF is a membership supported nonprofit organization established in 1957 to help persons with Ataxia and their families. The Foundation’s primary purpose is to support Ataxia research, provide vital programs and services for Ataxia families, and help in the search for a cure. NAF is the only organization in the United States dedicated to the disease that serves all types of Ataxia. NAF works closely with the world’s leading Ataxia researchers, promoting exchanges of ideas and innovation in Ataxia discovery.
So, thank you for asking and more importantly, thank you for taking the time to understand. More information can be found at
www.ataxia.org.
